The Texas Hazing & Campus Abuse Legal Guide: Protecting Lockettville Families

An Immediate Crisis: The Scene at a Texas Fraternity House

It’s a Thursday night at an off-campus fraternity house near a major Texas university. The air is thick with the smell of cheap beer and sweat. A group of first-year students—pledges—are lined up against a wall, their faces pale under the harsh lights. They’re told this is “tradition,” the final test before being welcomed as brothers. One by one, they’re handed a bottle of liquor and ordered to finish it. “Drink up, or you’re out!” an older member shouts. The students, desperate for acceptance, comply. Hours later, one of them collapses, vomiting, unable to stand. His friends hesitate—should they call for help and risk getting the chapter shut down? The minutes tick by as his condition worsens. Back in their Lockettville home, his parents sleep, unaware their child is fighting for his life in a filthy fraternity living room.

This scenario isn’t fiction. Right now, in Texas, we’re fighting exactly this kind of case. In Houston, we represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was hazed so severely by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter that he developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring four days of hospitalization. His story, detailed in a $10 million lawsuit filed in late 2025, involves forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical abuse. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and then shut down. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

If you’re a parent in Lockettville, Terry County, or anywhere in the South Plains region, your child could be facing similar dangers at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas A&M in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, or any of the dozens of campuses where Texas families send their children. This comprehensive guide exists to give you the knowledge, resources, and legal understanding you need to protect your student. We’ll explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down Texas and federal law, examine patterns at Texas universities, and show you how experienced legal counsel can help families like yours seek accountability and justice.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• We provide immediate help – that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
  • Post details on public social media
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• Universities move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or harmless tradition. Under Texas law and common sense, hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical element is the power imbalance: older members exerting control over new members who fear exclusion if they don’t comply.

For Lockettville families unfamiliar with modern Greek life, understand this: “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

Main Categories of Hazing in Today’s Campus Environment

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights, “bid acceptance” parties, or drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean shots. Students are often given handles of hard liquor and told to finish them. The risk of alcohol poisoning is extreme, and delayed medical care—because students fear getting the chapter in trouble—turns dangerous situations fatal.

Physical Hazing
This ranges from paddling and beatings to extreme calisthenics called “smokings”—hundreds of push-ups, wall sits until collapse, or forced runs in extreme weather. Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to dangerous environments (locked in freezing rooms, left outside in underwear) fall into this category. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH included being forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass and endure cold-weather exposure.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case—containing condoms, sex toys, and humiliating items that had to be carried 24/7—is a prime example of psychological and sexualized hazing.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming. This is often the foundation that makes physical hazing possible—breaking down a student’s resistance through constant degradation.

Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier includes group chat dares, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create compromising content, and 24/7 digital control through apps like GroupMe. Members might be required to respond instantly to messages at all hours, share their location, or post humiliating content online.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities and sororities receive the most attention, hazing occurs in many groups:

• Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style programs
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

The common thread is social status, tradition, and secrecy. These practices survive because new members are told “everyone before you did it,” and they fear exclusion if they don’t comply.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas + Federal

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code that every Lockettville family should understand. Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student that:

1. Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
2. Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Key Provisions for Texas Families:

Criminal Penalties (§37.152):

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury that requires medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Consent is Not a Defense (§37.155):
Texas law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for hazing that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This means even if your child “agreed” to participate, the perpetrators can still be prosecuted.

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154):
A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report. Many universities extend this to provide amnesty for underage drinking when students call for help in medical emergencies.

Organizational Liability (§37.153):
Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs) can be criminally prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if an officer knew about it and failed to report.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Standard of proof: Beyond a reasonable doubt

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Typical claims: Negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Standard of proof: Preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not)

Both types can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, most hazing victims and families seek civil justice even when criminal charges aren’t filed.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery Act

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
This federal law requires colleges that receive federal aid to:

• Report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthen hazing education and prevention programs
• Maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations are triggered. Universities must investigate and take appropriate action.

Clery Act:
Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics. Hazing incidents often overlap with assault, alcohol, or drug crimes that must be included in annual security reports.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up can face personal liability. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, 13 individual fraternity leaders were named as defendants.

Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated) can be sued. Chapter assets and insurance may be available to satisfy judgments.

National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters:
National organizations can be liable for what they knew or should have known from prior incidents. Their deep pockets and insurance coverage often make them primary targets in serious cases.

University or Governing Board:
Schools may be sued under negligence theories if they failed to adequately supervise, enforce policies, or respond to prior warnings. Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.

Third Parties:
Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), and security companies may share liability depending on the circumstances.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Families Can Learn

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance event with forced heavy drinking led to Piazza suffering multiple falls captured on chapter security cameras. Fraternity brothers delayed calling for help for 12 hours. He died from traumatic brain injuries. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges, civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
During a “Bible study” drinking game, Gruver was forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol concentration reached 0.495%. He died from alcohol poisoning. The case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Foltz was forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event. He died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). The former chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
During a fraternity retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted with a heavy backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual. He suffered fatal head injuries while members delayed calling 911. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits were filed against the university and staff. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired and later settled a wrongful-termination suit confidentially. The case shows hazing extends far beyond Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Lockettville Families

These national cases establish critical patterns that repeat in Texas:

• Forced drinking traditions (Big/Little nights, bid acceptance parties)
• Delayed medical care due to fear of consequences
• Institutional cover-ups and minimization
• Multi-million dollar settlements when families fight back

The legal precedents set in these cases strengthen the position of Texas families seeking accountability. When the same fraternity that killed Stone Foltz at Bowling Green engages in similar conduct at a Texas campus, that prior knowledge becomes powerful evidence of foreseeability.

Texas Focus: Universities Where Lockettville Families Send Their Children

As parents in Lockettville and Terry County, you likely have children at various Texas institutions. While Texas Tech University in Lubbock is the closest major campus, families across the South Plains region send students to universities statewide. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at key Texas campuses.

Texas Tech University: The Nearest Major Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Texas Tech in Lubbock serves as the primary university for many West Texas families. With over 40,000 students and active Greek life, it’s a campus where hazing risks exist in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, and other organizations.

Public Records: Greek Organizations Serving Texas Tech & Lockettville Families:
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks Greek organizations across Texas. For the Lubbock metro area (which includes Lockettville’s region), we monitor 59 Greek-related entities. Examples from public records include:

надеется на лучший исход в деле.

Our private directory includes IRS-registered entities like:

• Epsilon Nu Housing Corporation, EIN 237359384, Lubbock, TX 79401 (IRS B83 filing)
• Alpha Omega Epsilon-Beta Alpha Chapter, EIN 473967233, Lubbock, TX 79416 (IRS B83 filing)
• Farm House Fraternity Inc., EIN 751565336, Lubbock, TX 79416 (Texas Tech University chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 820644459, Lubbock, TX 79430 (Texas Tech University Health Sciences, IRS B83 filing)

Documented Incidents & Patterns:
Texas Tech has faced hazing allegations across multiple organizations. While specific recent cases may be settled confidentially, the patterns mirror national trends: forced drinking, physical abuse, and psychological coercion during pledge periods.

How a Texas Tech Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: Lubbock County courts for local incidents
• Involved agencies: Texas Tech Police Department, Lubbock Police Department
• Potential defendants: Individual students, local chapters, national organizations, and potentially the university depending on knowledge and response

What Texas Tech Students & Parents Should Do:

1. Report immediately to Texas Tech’s Office of Student Conduct
2. Document all evidence before it disappears
3. Contact an attorney experienced in West Texas hazing cases
4. Understand that geographic distance from Lockettville doesn’t prevent effective legal representation

University of Houston: Current Ground Zero for Texas Hazing Litigation

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UH’s urban campus hosts active Greek life with multiple councils. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates the severe risks that exist even at commuter-heavy universities.

The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi:
Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of Texas’s most serious hazing cases. Leonel Bermudez, a UH student, suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring:

• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”
• 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion
• Carrying a “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating items 24/7
• Multiple hospitalizations and ongoing kidney damage risk

The $10 million lawsuit names UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was suspended November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter November 14, 2025.

Public Records: Houston-Area Greek Organizations:
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro contains 188 Greek organizations according to our data. Examples include:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 filing)

What UH Students & Parents Should Do:

1. Report to UH’s Dean of Students Office immediately
2. Preserve all digital evidence (GroupMe chats are critical)
3. Understand that UH’s response to the Pi Kappa Phi case sets precedent for how seriously they must take allegations
4. Contact counsel familiar with Houston courts and UH’s internal processes

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets tradition creates additional hazing risks alongside substantial Greek life. The university has faced multiple high-profile cases.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended for two years.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.

Public Records: College Station Greek Organizations:
The College Station-Bryan metro has 42 Greek organizations. Examples include:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc., EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing)
• Eta Alpha House Corporation of Kappa Delta Sorority, EIN 742930349, College Station, TX 77840 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Nu-Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, EIN 814123811, College Station, TX 77840 (IRS B83 filing)

What Texas A&M Families Should Know:
The university’s unique traditions require attorneys who understand both Greek life and Corps culture. Evidence preservation is critical as both systems have strong internal pressure to maintain silence.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Patterns

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin’s public hazing violations page provides unusual transparency, showing repeated patterns across organizations.

Documented Violations (from UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Multiple other fraternities, sororities, and spirit groups sanctioned for alcohol hazing, forced workouts, and humiliating activities.

Public Records: Austin-Area Greek Organizations:
The Austin-Round Rock metro contains 154 Greek organizations. Examples include:

• Chi Omega Fraternity, EIN 740555581, Austin, TX 78705 (Chi Omega House Corporation, IRS B83 filing)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 746047117, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 463831593, Austin, TX 78723 (Texas State University, IRS B83 filing)

UT’s Unique Advantage for Families:
The public violation log can be powerful evidence in civil cases, showing patterns and university knowledge. This transparency, while not perfect, gives families more leverage than at less open institutions.

Southern Methodist University and Baylor University

Both private universities have faced hazing incidents. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. Baylor suspended 14 baseball players in 2020 following a hazing investigation. Private university status affects transparency but not liability—discovery in lawsuits can uncover internal reports and prior incidents.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific + National Histories

Why National Histories Matter

When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous conduct that got another chapter shut down in another state, that pattern shows foreseeability—the national organization knew or should have known the risks. This strengthens negligence claims and can support punitive damages.

Organization Mapping: National Patterns in Texas Chapters

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ):

• National History: Stone Foltz death (Bowling Green, $10M settlement), multiple other alcohol hazing deaths
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Texas Tech, SMU, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” drinking traditions, forced alcohol consumption

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ):

• National History: Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide, traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama, chemical burns case at Texas A&M
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Texas Tech, SMU
• Pattern: Physical abuse, chemical hazing, alcohol coercion

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National History: Andrew Coffey death (Florida State)
• Texas Presence: Chapter at UH (Beta Nu now closed), other Texas campuses
• Pattern: Extreme physical hazing, forced consumption, humiliation rituals

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National History: Max Gruver death (LSU, $6.1M verdict)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Texas Tech, Baylor
• Pattern: Drinking games, alcohol poisoning risks

How National Histories Strengthen Texas Cases

When we represent Texas hazing victims, we investigate:

1. Prior incidents at the same chapter
2. Prior incidents at other chapters of the same national
3. National policies and whether they were enforced
4. Communications between local chapter and national headquarters

This pattern evidence can overcome defenses like “we didn’t know” or “this was rogue individuals.” National organizations that collect dues, provide materials, and maintain oversight can be held accountable for failing to prevent predictable harm.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, Strategy

Evidence: The Foundation of Every Successful Case

Digital Communications:
GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and fraternity-specific apps contain the most critical evidence. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, group chats showed planning, coordination, and admissions of guilt.

Photos & Videos:
Content filmed during events, shared in group chats, or posted on social media. Security camera footage from houses and venues can be subpoenaed.

Internal Organization Documents:
Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, ritual “traditions” lists, emails and texts from officers about “what we’ll do to pledges.” National policies and training materials show what should have been prevented.

University Records:
Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters, incident reports, Clery reports. Through discovery and public records requests, we obtain documents showing what the university knew and when.

Medical & Psychological Records:
ER records, hospitalization notes, surgery reports, toxicology results, psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety. These documents prove the harm and its severity.

Witness Testimony:
Pledges, members, roommates, RAs, coaches, bystanders. Former members who quit or were expelled often provide crucial testimony about patterns and culture.

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical bills (ER, ICU, surgery, ongoing treatment)
• Future medical care (therapy, medications, long-term care for permanent injuries)
• Lost earnings/educational impact (missed semesters, reduced earning capacity)
• Other costs (property damage, relocation expenses)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Damage to reputation and relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Emotional suffering of family members

Punitive Damages:
In cases of particularly reckless or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish defendants and deter future conduct. Texas has caps on punitive damages in many cases, but exceptions exist for intentional torts.

Role of Different Defendants and Insurance Coverage

National fraternities and universities typically have insurance policies that may cover hazing claims, though insurers often argue exclusions for intentional acts. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys gives us unique insight into these coverage fights. We identify all potential policies—chapter, national, university, homeowner’s policies of individual members—and navigate exclusions to maximize recovery.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Lockettville Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation
• Weight changes, eating disorders
• Secretive behavior about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family, old friends
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
• Anxiety when phone buzzes, fear of missing “mandatory” events
• Personality changes: depression, anxiety, irritability
• Academic decline, missing classes
• Unexplained expenses, requests for money

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
2. Express concern without judgment: “I noticed you seem really tired lately. Is everything okay?”
3. Listen more than you talk
4. Emphasize safety over status: “Your health matters more than any group.”

If Your Child Is Hurt:

1. Get medical attention immediately
2. Document everything (photos of injuries, screenshots of texts)
3. Write down what they tell you (who, what, when, where)
4. Contact an experienced hazing attorney before confronting the organization

Dealing with the University:

1. Document all communications
2. Ask specifically about prior incidents involving the same organization
3. Request copies of policies and procedures
4. Don’t sign anything without legal review

For Students: Safety and Reporting

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university or my parents approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this?

If you answered yes to any, it’s likely hazing.

How to Exit Safely:

1. Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
2. Send a clear written resignation: “I am resigning my membership effective immediately”
3. Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where you might be pressured or threatened
4. If you fear retaliation, report that fear to campus police and the Dean of Students

Evidence Collection:

• Screenshot group chats with timestamps visible
• Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
• Save all digital communications—don’t delete anything
• Write down names and contact information for witnesses
• Watch our video on using your phone to document evidence

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence
   Looks like a cover-up; can be obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible.

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly
   They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare defenses.

3. Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms
   You may waive your right to sue; settlements are often far below case value.

4. Posting details on social media before talking to a lawyer
   Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility.

5. Letting your child go back to “one last meeting”
   They may be pressured, intimidated, or extract statements that hurt the case.

6. Waiting “to see how the university handles it”
   Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute of limitations runs.

7. Talking to insurance adjusters without a lawyer
   Recorded statements are used against you; early settlements are lowball offers.

Short FAQ for Texas Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—watch our statute of limitations video and call us immediately.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms.

About The Manginello Law Firm + Call to Action

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your Lockettville family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

Insurance Insider Advantage (Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims. He understands their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):
Our firm is one of the few in Texas involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar corporations. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. We’ve taken on the biggest defendants and won. Learn more about Ralph’s background.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs for brain injuries and permanent disabilities. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure and navigate both systems effectively.

Investigative Depth:
Our network includes medical experts, digital forensics specialists, economists, and psychologists. We know how to obtain hidden evidence—group chats, chapter records, university files. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it, because it does.

Spanish-Language Services:
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles. Contacte a Lupe Peña a lupe@atty911.com.

Our Call to Action for Lockettville Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at Texas Tech, University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Lockettville, Terry County, and throughout the South Plains region have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll:

• Listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
• Answer your questions about costs (contingency fee – we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot – take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (Spanish)

Whether you’re in Lockettville or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to help you understand your rights, protect your child, and pursue the accountability that can prevent this from happening to another family.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We answer 24/7.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com