The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits & Accountability for U.S. Families: Understanding Your Rights and Legal Options

If Your Child Was Hazed at Any U.S. College, You Are Not Alone

It’s 2 a.m. on a college campus somewhere in America. A young student—your child—feels their phone vibrate with another demand from a fraternity, sorority, or team GroupMe. They’re exhausted, sore from forced “workouts,” humiliated by degrading tasks, and fearful of what comes next if they don’t comply. This isn’t the college experience you imagined. It’s hazing: a dangerous, illegal, and often hidden abuse of power that happens in every state, at universities large and small.

Right now, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In Texas, we represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and numerous individual members. The allegations are severe: a “pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule, extreme physical workouts, forced consumption of food until vomiting, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” This abuse led to Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. His urine was brown. This case, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 coverage, shows the brutal reality of modern hazing.

If you are a parent in the United States whose child has been injured, traumatized, or worse by hazing connected to fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, athletics, spirit groups, or other campus organizations, this guide is for you. We will explain what hazing really looks like today, the legal frameworks that apply across the country, the national patterns of abuse within Greek organizations, and the practical steps your family can take toward accountability and recovery.

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 (see our video guide).
  • 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 directly.
  • 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: Evidence disappears fast. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Across American Campuses

Hazing is not a relic of the past or “just boys being boys.” It is a calculated, evolving form of abuse that exploits power imbalances and uses tradition as a shield. It happens in all 50 states.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership in, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. A student “agreeing” under intense social pressure, fear of exclusion, or desire for belonging does not make it legal or safe.

The Main Categories of Hazing Nationwide

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: The most common and deadliest form. Includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and pressured consumption of unknown drugs.
2. Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), degrading costumes, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats, manipulation, and public shaming in meetings or online.
5. Digital/Online Hazing: A 21st-century evolution. Includes GroupMe dares, forced embarrassing social media posts, 24/7 location sharing demands, and humiliation via TikTok or Discord.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Stereotype

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many groups:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Athletic Teams (from football and basketball to cheer and swim teams).
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and Military-Style Groups.
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like “Texas Cowboys” or similar groups on other campuses).
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs.

The common threads are social status, secrecy, and a twisted notion of tradition that keeps these practices alive.

Law & Liability Framework: U.S. and State Laws

Hazing is illegal everywhere in the United States. Understanding the layers of law is crucial for holding the right parties accountable.

State Hazing Laws: The Foundation

Every state has its own anti-hazing statutes. While specifics vary, most laws:

• Define hazing broadly to include acts that endanger mental or physical health for purposes of initiation or affiliation.
• Establish criminal penalties, often increasing from misdemeanors to felonies when serious injury or death occurs.
• Include provisions that “consent” of the victim is not a defense.
• Provide limited immunity for those who report hazing or call for help in good faith.

For example, Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student for purposes of affiliation. It is a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, and consent is explicitly not a defense. We use our deep knowledge of Texas law as a benchmark for understanding how other state statutes function.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (local prosecutor or District Attorney). Aim to punish through jail time, fines, and probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter in fatal cases.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim to secure financial compensation for losses (medical bills, pain and suffering) and force institutional change. These cases target negligence, wrongful death, and premises liability.

A criminal case is not required to pursue a civil lawsuit. The two can proceed simultaneously, and a skilled legal team understands how to navigate both tracks.

Federal Law Overlay

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to increase transparency in hazing reporting, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data (fully phased in by 2026). This will give families nationwide better insight into campus patterns.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, a university’s Title IX obligations are triggered, creating additional avenues for investigation and liability.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes. Hazing incidents that involve assault, alcohol crimes, or other reportable offenses must be logged, creating a paper trail.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Liability is often spread across multiple parties, creating a “universe of defendants” that a thorough attorney will identify:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: If it is a legal entity (many are incorporated as housing corporations or alumni chapters).
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Often the deepest pocket. They can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce their own policies, and having knowledge of prior incidents.
4. The University or College: Schools can be sued for negligence, gross negligence, or violating statutory duties if they knew or should have known about the dangerous practices and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under “dram shop” laws), and security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Tragic Script That Repeats

The same dangerous patterns lead to injury and death at campuses from coast to coast. These are not isolated incidents; they are a predictable script.

The Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event; died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, strengthening felony hazing penalties.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night.” His case prompted FSU to temporarily suspend all Greek life.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of crimes and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants, highlighting the multi-party liability in severe injury cases.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Former players alleged systemic, sexualized hazing within the program, leading to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and a confidential settlement. This proves hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What These National Cases Mean for Your Family

These cases establish critical legal precedents on foreseeability, institutional duty, and cover-up tactics. They show that juries and courts are willing to hold powerful organizations accountable with multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. The same fraternities and patterns exist at colleges nationwide, meaning the lessons from Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania apply directly to cases in your state.

The National Greek Landscape: Organizations with Histories of Harm

The fraternities and sororities on your child’s campus are almost always chapters of sprawling national organizations. These nationals have extensive records of hazing incidents—knowledge that becomes central to a liability case.

Why National Histories Matter

National headquarters create anti-hazing policies precisely because they have seen deaths and injuries across their network. When a local chapter repeats the same dangerous “tradition,” it demonstrates that the harm was foreseeable. In court, we can show that the national organization had prior notice of the risks but failed to take adequate steps to prevent them at your child’s school.

A Snapshot of Organizations with Documented National Patterns

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Involved in the Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement) and other serious alcohol hazing cases nationwide.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced lawsuits for incidents causing traumatic brain injury, severe chemical burns, and assault at campuses including the University of Alabama, Texas A&M, and the University of Texas.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU is a landmark case in felony hazing legislation.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The Andrew Coffey death at FSU is a stark example of the “Big/Little” drinking night danger.
• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI): The Danny Santulli catastrophic brain injury case at Mizzou resulted in multi-defendant settlements.

This pattern evidence is powerful. It helps defeat the common defense that an incident was an “unforeseeable accident” or the work of “rogue individuals.”

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, data-driven investigation and a strategic understanding of institutional defenses. This is where our experience makes a critical difference.

The Evidence That Wins Cases in the Digital Age

We pursue every piece of evidence:

• Digital Communications: We recover and analyze GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and fraternity app messages—even deleted ones using digital forensics.
• Photos & Videos: Content filmed during events, social media posts, and security footage from homes or venues.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between officers, and national risk management guidelines obtained through discovery.
• Institutional Records: Prior conduct files from the university, campus police reports, and Clery Act disclosures that show a pattern of ignored warnings.
• Medical & Psychological Records: Documentation of physical injuries (like rhabdomyolysis lab reports) and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
• Witness Testimony: We interview fellow pledges, former members, roommates, and other bystanders to build an unassailable timeline.

Understanding Damages: What Families Can Recover

Civil lawsuits seek to make families whole and hold defendants accountable through several types of damages:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost educational costs (tuition, scholarships), and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, courts may award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts. We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to ensure the full scope of harm is accurately presented.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

National fraternities and universities have expensive lawyers and complex insurance policies. Insurers often initially deny claims, arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage. Our insider advantage is crucial here. Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how these companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We use this knowledge to aggressively pursue every available policy—from national umbrella policies to individual homeowner’s policies of involved members—to secure the resources needed for our clients’ recovery.

Public Records Intelligence: Demonstrating Our Investigative Depth

To show families the level of detail we bring to every case, we maintain what we call our Hazing Intelligence Engine. While the following examples are from our home state of Texas, they illustrate the investigative rigor we apply to cases in any state. We identify every entity that could share liability, from the undergraduate chapter to the alumni housing corporation.

Illustrative Public Records of Greek Organizations (Texas Examples):

• Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc. EIN 46-2267515. Frisco, TX 75035. (IRS B83 filing).
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter. Beaumont, TX. Undergraduate chapter at Lamar University. (Cause IQ metro listing).
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Beaumont Alumni. Beaumont, TX. Graduate chapter. (Cause IQ metro listing).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar Univ. Chapter. Beaumont, TX. Academic honor society. (IRS B83 & Cause IQ overlap).

This is just a tiny sample. Nationwide, we conduct this same level of organizational mapping to identify all potentially liable parties and their insurance coverage, ensuring no entity escapes scrutiny.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Parents and Students Nationwide

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme exhaustion, drastic mood changes, secretive phone use, and withdrawal from family and old friends.
2. Talk to Your Child: Use open, non-judgmental questions. Emphasize their safety is your only concern.
3. Seek Immediate Medical Care: Even if injuries seem minor. Get a professional evaluation and document everything.
4. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats and texts. Photograph injuries. Save clothing or objects. Create a written timeline.
5. Consult an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: An experienced hazing lawyer can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
6. Document University Communications: Keep a record of all interactions with school administrators.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated in order to belong, it likely is. Key questions:

• Would I do this if there was no social pressure?
• Is this activity kept secret from the school or outsiders?
• Are older members making me do things they don’t have to do?
  If you’re in danger, call 911. To exit safely, tell a trusted person first, then send a clear written resignation to the chapter president. You have the right to leave.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage Your Case

• Deleting Digital Evidence: Preserve all messages—they are the strongest proof.
• Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
• Signing University Documents Unreviewed: You may unknowingly waive your rights.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies can hurt credibility.
• Waiting to Act: Evidence vanishes, witnesses scatter, and statutes of limitation run out.

Watch our video on common client mistakes that can ruin an injury case.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue if this happened off-campus?”
Yes. Liability is based on the organization’s sponsorship and control, not strictly property lines. Major cases have been won for incidents at off-campus houses, retreats, and Airbnbs.

“My child ‘agreed’ to participate. Does that matter?”
No. Every state’s hazing law is designed to protect students from coercion. “Consent” under peer pressure is not a valid legal defense for those doing the hazing.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
This varies by state, but generally 1-3 years from the date of injury. However, deadlines can be complex. Do not wait. Learn more in our video on statutes of limitations.

“Will this be public? We want privacy.”
Most civil cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases Nationwide

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand the intricate ecosystems of fraternities, sororities, and universities, and who have proven experience taking on powerful institutions.

Our Unique Qualifications for National Hazing Litigation

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: Right now, we are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi $10 million hazing lawsuit. We are in the fight, deposing fraternity leaders and university officials, and navigating complex federal and state court procedures. This is not theoretical knowledge; it’s active, frontline expertise.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny claims, lowball settlements, and drag out cases. We use this inside knowledge to counter their tactics from day one.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar corporate defendants. Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets and aggressive defense teams—we are not intimidated. We’ve been here before.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Hazing Intelligence Engine, demonstrated in our Texas work, reflects our national approach. We trace liability through every layer—from the pledge on the ground to the national headquarters and their insurers—leaving no entity unexamined.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure that often accompanies hazing. We can advise on both legal tracks, whether your child is a victim, a witness, or a former member seeking to do the right thing.
• Nationwide Service Model: While based in Texas, we serve families across the United States. We can serve as lead counsel for cases with Texas connections (like a Texas-based national office or insurance company). For cases in other states, we partner with excellent local attorneys as co-counsel, providing our specialized hazing strategy and institutional litigation experience. We also provide consultation and case evaluation for any family, anywhere, to help you understand your options.

Our Commitment to Your Family

We know this is one of the most painful experiences a family can endure. Our mission is threefold: to get your family the resources needed for recovery, to hold every responsible party fully accountable, and to force the institutional changes that will prevent this from happening to another student.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has injured your child, you are not alone, and you have options. The path to accountability starts with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, no-obligation consultation. In this confidential meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal landscape and your family’s potential options in clear, straightforward terms.
• Discuss our strategic approach to hazing cases.
• Answer your questions about the process, timelines, and our contingency fee structure (you pay nothing unless we win your case).

We serve families from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and across the nation.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Let us help you turn this crisis into a catalyst for accountability, healing, and change.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston Investigation: 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 Eyewitness News Timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline Summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Understanding Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Website & Contact:

• The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911): https://attorney911.com

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 vary by state, and every case is unique. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified attorney who can review your specific situation. We offer free, confidential consultations at 1-888-ATTY-911.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston | Austin | Beaumont | Serving Families Nationwide
Call 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)