Hazing in Texas: A Complete Legal Guide for Mount Vernon Families Seeking Justice and Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

Imagine receiving a call in the middle of the night. Your child, a student at a Texas university, is in the emergency room. Their story comes out in fragments—forced drinking, humiliating rituals, extreme physical exertion, and a culture of silence that prevented them from seeking help sooner. For families in Mount Vernon, Franklin County, this is not a hypothetical fear. It is the reality facing Texas parents right now, as universities and national fraternities perpetuate dangerous traditions that injure and kill young people.

Just this past fall, University of Houston pledge Leonel Bermudez suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after alleged hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. According to media reports, his “urine was brown” and he required four days of hospitalization following extreme workouts, forced consumption of food until vomiting, and psychological torment. The chapter has since been shut down, and a $10 million lawsuit is underway—but for the Bermudez family and many others across Texas, the physical and emotional damage persists.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Mount Vernon, Franklin County, and throughout Northeast Texas who need to understand the reality of modern hazing, Texas legal protections, and what genuine accountability looks like. We will examine what’s happening at Texas universities, explain your legal rights, and provide actionable steps to protect your child and pursue 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 at Texas Universities

Many Mount Vernon parents remember hazing as “pranks” or “initiation rituals,” but modern hazing has evolved into systematic abuse that causes serious injury and death. Understanding what hazing actually looks like today is the first step in recognizing when your child might be in danger.

A Modern Definition: Beyond Stereotypes

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. Crucially, “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law recognizes that true consent cannot exist when someone fears social exclusion or retaliation.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form of hazing. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights, bid acceptance parties, “family tree” drinking games, and “lineups” where pledges must consume dangerous amounts of alcohol rapidly. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH allegedly included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. Nationally, this pattern has killed students like Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University and Max Gruver at LSU.

2. Physical Hazing
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to dangerous environments. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case allegedly included 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, cold-weather exposure in underwear, and lying in vomit-soaked grass. At Texas A&M, lawsuits have alleged chemical burns from industrial-strength cleaners poured on pledges and Corps of Cadets hazing involving binding and humiliation.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“roasted pig” positions, “elephant walks”), degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. These practices cause profound psychological trauma and are increasingly the subject of Title IX investigations alongside hazing claims.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming create environments where students feel trapped. The psychological impact often outlasts physical injuries, leading to PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
The modern evolution includes group chat dares, social media humiliation via Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok challenges, pressure to create compromising content, and 24/7 digital monitoring through apps like GroupMe. Many fraternities now use encrypted apps and disappearing messages to avoid detection.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

Mount Vernon families should understand that hazing extends far beyond fraternity houses:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural organizations)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other military-style programs
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, swimming)
• Spirit Squads and Tradition Groups like Texas Cowboys, Silver Spurs
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Organizations

The common threads across all these groups are social status, tradition, secrecy, and power imbalance that enable abuse to continue even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Mount Vernon Families Need to Know

Understanding Texas law is crucial for Mount Vernon families navigating a hazing crisis. Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code that provide both criminal penalties and civil liability pathways.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

Texas law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

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

Key points for Mount Vernon families:

• Location doesn’t matter – hazing can happen on or off campus
• Mental OR physical harm qualifies
• Recklessness is enough – they don’t need to have intended harm
• “Consent is not a defense” – even if your child agreed, it’s still hazing

Criminal Penalties Under Texas Law

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

Additional criminal provisions:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer and knew): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports: misdemeanor

Organizational Liability for Fraternities and Universities

Texas law allows organizations to be prosecuted if:

• The organization authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties include:

• Fines up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the organization from campus

Critical Protections for Reporting

• Good-faith reporter immunity: A person who in good faith reports hazing to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report
• Medical emergency amnesty: Texas law and university policies provide protection for students who call 911, even if they were drinking underage or involved in the hazing

How Texas Law Compares to Other States

Texas has strong hazing laws but isn’t the strongest:

• Pennsylvania (Piazza Law): Enhanced penalties after Timothy Piazza’s death
• Louisiana (Max Gruver Act): Felony hazing statute with serious prison time
• Ohio (Collin’s Law): Hazing becomes felony when drugs/alcohol cause physical harm
• Florida (Chad Meredith Law): Criminalized hazing after drowning death

Texas falls in the middle with solid criminal provisions but less public awareness. The current UH Pi Kappa Phi case could potentially drive Texas reforms similar to other states’ victim-named legislation.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding Your Options

Mount Vernon families facing hazing situations need to understand two distinct legal pathways that often run parallel.

Criminal Cases: State Prosecution

• Brought by: The State of Texas (prosecutor)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Process: Investigation by campus or local police, potential arrest, court proceedings
• Outcome: No financial compensation for victims

Civil Cases: Seeking Compensation and Accountability

• Brought by: Victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and institutional accountability
• Legal theories: Negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent hiring/supervision, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Process: Investigation, demand letter, potential lawsuit, discovery, settlement or trial
• Outcome: Financial compensation for damages, potentially policy changes

Why You Can Pursue Both Simultaneously

A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, many hazing cases proceed civilly even when criminal charges aren’t filed. The standards of proof differ:

• Criminal: “Beyond a reasonable doubt”
• Civil: “Preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not)

The Bermudez case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is a civil lawsuit seeking damages, not criminal prosecution, though criminal charges could theoretically follow.

Federal Law Overlay: Additional Protections

Texas hazing cases often involve federal laws that provide additional avenues for accountability.

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)

This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to:

• Report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthen hazing education and prevention
• Maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)
• Provides national standards that Texas universities must follow

Title IX Protections

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

• Conduct adequate investigations
• Protect complainants from retaliation
• Provide supportive measures
• Potentially face liability for “deliberate indifference”

Clery Act Requirements

The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics. Hazing incidents often overlap with assault, alcohol, or drug crimes that trigger Clery reporting obligations.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Texas Hazing Case?

Mount Vernon families should understand that multiple parties often share responsibility when hazing causes harm.

1. Individual Students

• Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up
• Chapter officers (president, pledge educator, risk manager)
• Active members who participated or failed to intervene

2. Local Chapter/Organization

• The fraternity/sorority itself if incorporated
• Chapter housing corporations
• Alumni advisory boards

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters

• Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters
• Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents
• In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi national is named alongside the local chapter

4. University or Governing Board

• Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) under certain negligence theories
• Private universities (SMU, Baylor) with fewer immunity protections
• Liability for prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference

5. Third Parties

• Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces
• Bars or alcohol providers under dram shop theories
• Security companies or event organizers

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys investigate all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Can Learn

The tragedies that have unfolded at campuses nationwide provide crucial lessons for Texas families and establish legal precedents that shape how courts view hazing cases.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
During a bid-acceptance event with forced drinking, Piazza suffered severe falls captured on chapter cameras. Brothers delayed calling for help for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges, civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. For Texas families, this case demonstrates how extreme intoxication combined with a culture of silence creates lethal situations.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
Gruver died during a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony. The case shows how legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof of hazing.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Foltz died after being forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during a pledge event. The case resulted in multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). This demonstrates that universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Deng died during a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat, with members delaying medical help. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. This case proves that off-campus retreats can be as dangerous as parties and that national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits led to head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing and a confidential settlement. This demonstrates that hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with systemic abuse problems.

What These Cases Mean for Mount Vernon Families

Common threads in national cases—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups—mirror what we see in Texas. The multi-million-dollar settlements and legislative reforms show that accountability is possible, but usually only comes after tragedy and determined litigation.

Texas Universities: Hazing Realities at Schools Mount Vernon Families Attend

Mount Vernon students attend universities across Texas, from nearby East Texas schools to major state universities. Understanding the specific hazing landscape at each campus helps families recognize risks and respond effectively.

University of Houston: The Current Crisis

For Mount Vernon Families: While UH is several hours from Mount Vernon, many Franklin County students attend this major urban university. The current Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates that even at a commuter-heavy school with strong anti-hazing policies, dangerous traditions persist.

Campus Culture: UH is a large urban campus with active Greek life including 50+ fraternities and sororities across IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, and multicultural councils. The university has struggled with hazing incidents despite prevention efforts.

Recent Case – Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi (2025):

• Allegations: Extreme physical hazing including 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, forced consumption of milk/hot dogs/peppercorns until vomiting, “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Medical Harm: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, 4-day hospitalization
• Response: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended chapter (Nov 6), members voted to surrender charter (Nov 14), UH called conduct “deeply disturbing”
• Legal Action: $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County, naming UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, housing corporation, and 13 individual members

UH Hazing Policy & Reporting:

• Prohibits hazing on or off campus
• Reporting through Dean of Students Office, UHPD, online forms
• Public disciplinary records less transparent than UT’s system

What Mount Vernon Families Should Know:

• UHPD and Houston Police Department share jurisdiction depending on location
• Civil suits typically filed in Harris County courts
• Prior incidents at UH include 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case with lacerated spleen injury

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

For Mount Vernon Families: Texas A&M attracts students from across Texas, including Northeast Texas. The university’s unique Corps of Cadets culture and strong Greek life create multiple environments where hazing can occur.

Campus Culture: Texas A&M has one of the nation’s largest Corps of Cadets programs and extensive Greek life with historical traditions that sometimes cross into hazing.

Recent Cases:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. $1 million lawsuit filed, chapter suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in “roasted pig” position with apple in mouth. Sought over $1 million.
• Texas A&M Baseball Hazing (Ongoing): Multiple reports of physical and psychological hazing within athletic program.

Reporting Systems:

• Student Conduct Office handles Greek life cases
• Corps has separate disciplinary system
• Anonymous reporting through various channels

What Mount Vernon Families Should Know:

• Cases may involve College Station PD, campus police, or military authorities
• Both Greek life and Corps traditions face ongoing scrutiny
• University has faced criticism for handling of multiple hazing incidents

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Tradition

For Mount Vernon Families: UT Austin draws students from every Texas county, including Franklin County. The university’s public hazing violations page provides unusual transparency about which organizations have been disciplined.

Campus Culture: UT has approximately 60 fraternity/sorority chapters with strong traditions. The university’s public shaming of violating organizations represents one of Texas’s most transparent approaches.

Documented Violations (Recent Examples):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation with mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (2022): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault causing dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose. Chapter already under suspension for prior violations.

UT’s Hazing Transparency:

• Public violations page at hazing.utexas.edu
• Lists organizations, dates, conduct, sanctions
• Shows pattern of repeat violations by some groups

What Mount Vernon Families Should Know:

• UTPD and Austin PD share jurisdiction
• Prior violations on public log strengthen civil cases by showing pattern evidence
• University generally cooperates with law enforcement investigations

Other Texas Universities Mount Vernon Students Attend

While the “Big 5” receive most attention, Mount Vernon students attend universities across Texas:

Nearby Northeast Texas Schools:

• Texas A&M University-Commerce: Greek life and athletic hazing incidents
• University of Texas at Tyler: Growing Greek system with national organization chapters
• Stephen F. Austin State University: Traditional Greek culture in Nacogdoches

Other Major Texas Universities:

• Texas Tech University: Multiple hazing investigations in Greek life and spirit groups
• University of North Texas: Large Greek system in Denton with periodic hazing cases
• Sam Houston State University: Active Greek life near Huntsville

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Mount Vernon Families Are Really Dealing With

To understand hazing risks, Mount Vernon families need to understand the complex network of organizations behind campus Greek life. Our firm maintains what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database tracking over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This investigative tool helps us uncover the full scope of liability in hazing cases.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families

If you are a parent in Mount Vernon, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below are examples of Texas-registered Greek entities from public filings—just a fraction of the network we track.

IRS B83 Organizations (Texas-Registered Greek Entities):

• KAPPA SIGMA – MU CAMMA CHAPTER INC | EIN: 133048786 | 3007 EARL RUDDER FWY S, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845-6681 | IRS B83 public filing
• BETA NU PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION INC | EIN: 462267515 | 10601 BIG HORN TRL, FRISCO, TX 75035-6629 | IRS B83 public filing
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 475370943 | 5019 CALHOUN RD, HOUSTON, TX 77204-7005 | THETA DELTA CHAPTER | IRS B83 public filing
• PI KAPPA ALPHA FRATERNITY | EIN: 746064445 | 1855 HIGHWAY 69 N, NEDERLAND, TX 77627-8843 | EPSILON KAPPA CHAPTER | IRS B83 public filing
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 900293166 | 114 HENDERSON HALL 4233 TAMU, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77843-0001 | TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY CHAPTER | IRS B83 public filing

Metro-Level Organizations (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Examples):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity | Fort Worth, TX – 12650 N Beach St #30, Suite 114, Fort Worth, TX 76244 | Cause IQ metro listing
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation | Fort Worth, TX – Kappa Sigma housing foundation | Cause IQ metro listing
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter | Fort Worth, TX – Chapter at TCU | Cause IQ metro listing

Cross-Validated Brands (Appearing in Both IRS and Metro Data):

• Beta Upsilon Chi appears in IRS filings (EIN: 742911848) and Cause IQ metro data
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation appears in both systems
• Pi Kappa Alpha appears in IRS data and multiple metro listings

Why This Network Matters for Your Case

When hazing occurs, liability often extends beyond the individual students to include:

• Chapter housing corporations that own properties where hazing occurs
• Alumni organizations that fund and advise chapters
• National headquarters that set policies and collect dues
• Educational foundations that provide tax-advantaged funding

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine helps us identify every potentially liable entity from the beginning, preventing the “we didn’t know” defenses that organizations often raise.

Fraternity and Sorority National Histories: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

National organizations’ histories matter because they show foreseeability—when a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused injury or death elsewhere, it demonstrates the national organization knew or should have known the risks.

Organizations with Documented National Hazing Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State (2021): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink entire bottle
• David Bogenberger – Northern Illinois (2012): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning; $14 million settlement
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UH, SMU, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” drinking nights repeatedly cause deaths

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

• Multiple Deaths Nationwide: Known as “the deadliest fraternity” with multiple alcohol hazing deaths
• Texas A&M Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges suffered chemical burns requiring skin grafts
• UT Austin Assault (2024): Exchange student suffered multiple fractures
• Pattern: Extreme physical hazing combined with alcohol

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (2017): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning during “Big Brother Night”
• Leonel Bermudez – University of Houston (2025): Rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme hazing
• Pattern: Physical endurance hazing combined with psychological abuse

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• Max Gruver – LSU (2017): Pledge died during “Bible study” drinking game; Louisiana passed Max Gruver Act
• Pattern: Academic-themed drinking games with fatal outcomes

How National Histories Strengthen Texas Cases

In litigation, we use national pattern evidence to prove:

• Prior Notice: National organizations knew specific activities were dangerous
• Foreseeability: Injuries were predictable based on other chapters’ conduct
• Inadequate Prevention: National policies weren’t meaningfully enforced
• Punitive Damages: Reckless disregard for known dangers

When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that caused death or injury elsewhere, courts recognize that the national organization had ample warning to prevent harm.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for Mount Vernon Families

Success in hazing litigation requires systematic evidence collection, understanding of damages, and strategic positioning against institutional defendants.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important Category)

• Group messages: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
• Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
• Recovered data: Digital forensics can retrieve deleted messages
• Our video on using your cellphone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed during hazing events
• Security camera footage from houses/venues
• Injury documentation with timestamps

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts
• Risk management policies
• Communications about “traditions”

University Records

• Prior conduct files through public records requests
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports

Medical & Psychological Records

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression
• Long-term treatment plans

Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost earnings/educational impact
• Life care plans for catastrophic injuries

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Damages

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship and support
• Emotional harm to family members

Punitive Damages

• When defendants show reckless disregard
• Particularly relevant with national organizations’ prior knowledge

Insurance Coverage Strategies

Fraternities and universities typically have insurance, but insurers often argue:

• Hazing is excluded as “intentional conduct”
• Policies don’t cover certain defendants
• Coverage limits are inadequate

Our insurance-insider knowledge (from Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney) helps us navigate these disputes and identify all potential coverage sources.

Practical Guides for Mount Vernon Families: What to Do Now

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns
• Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Constant phone monitoring for group messages
• Financial requests for unexplained expenses

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk non-confrontationally: “How are things going with [organization]? Is there anything making you uncomfortable?”
2. Document everything: Write down what they tell you with dates/times
3. Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
4. Seek medical care: Even if they resist, prioritize health
5. Consult an attorney before reporting: Evidence preservation is crucial

48-Hour Action Checklist:

• Hours 1-6: Medical attention, safety, initial evidence preservation
• Hours 6-24: Digital evidence backup, medical records request
• Hours 24-48: Legal consultation, strategic reporting decisions

For Students: Self-Protection and Safe Exit

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide:

• Are you being forced or pressured?
• Would you do this with no social consequences?
• Is it dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university/parents approve if they knew?
• Are you told to keep secrets?

How to Exit Safely:

• Tell someone outside the organization first
• Send written resignation to chapter leadership
• Do NOT attend “one last meeting”
• Document any retaliation
• Seek university support services

Evidence Collection for Students:

• Screenshot all group chats with timestamps
• Record conversations (Texas is one-party consent state)
• Photograph injuries over several days
• Save all digital communications
• Request medical documentation

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: What seems embarrassing now is crucial for your case
2. Confronting the Organization: Triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching
3. Signing University Agreements: May waive legal rights for inadequate resolutions
4. Social Media Posts: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
5. Delaying Legal Consultation: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run

Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

Frequently Asked Questions for Mount Vernon Families

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and individual capacity lawsuits. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer protections. Each case requires specific analysis—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case evaluation.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if causing serious bodily injury or death. The Bermudez case involving rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure could potentially support felony charges.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t voluntary. This legal principle is crucial for overcoming organizations’ attempts to blame victims.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist. The discovery rule may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately apparent. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled. Time is critical—call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Learn about Texas statutes of limitations in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. The Pi Delta Psi case (Deng) and many others occurred off-campus and resulted in substantial judgments.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability through sealed records and confidential settlement terms when appropriate.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your Mount Vernon 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.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage
Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience
Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar defendants. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. We’ve taken on massive corporations and won.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lost lives and lifetime care needs. 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.

Investigative Depth
Our network includes medical experts, digital forensics specialists, economists, and psychologists. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Texas-Specific Mastery
From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Mount Vernon and all of Franklin County. We understand Texas courts, Texas laws, and Texas university systems intimately.

Our Approach: Empathy Meets Aggressive Advocacy

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances:

• Empathetic support through traumatic situations
• Thorough investigation that leaves no stone unturned
• Aggressive litigation against institutions that prioritize reputation over safety
• Strategic resolution focusing on accountability and prevention

Learn more about our wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/

Call to Action for Mount Vernon Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Mount Vernon, Franklin County, and throughout Northeast Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

Your Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

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

• Listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have
• Explain your legal options clearly
• Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee – we don’t get paid unless we win)

1. Apply no pressure – take time to decide with your family

Everything you tell us is protected by attorney-client confidentiality.

Contact Attorney911 Today

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

Spanish-Language Services:
Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Final Word to Mount Vernon Families

Whether you’re in Mount Vernon or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions responsible for these tragedies count on silence and inaction. By standing up for accountability, you not only seek justice for your child but help prevent future harm to others.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’re here to listen, to fight, and to help your family navigate this difficult journey toward healing and accountability.

Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Evidence Documentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency Fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

• Homepage & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Wrongful Death Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal Defense Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/

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 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