The Hazing Lawsuit Guide for City of Pecan Gap & Delta County Families: University Accountability, Fraternity Liability & Your Legal Rights

For Delta County Parents: When “Tradition” Becomes Trauma

Imagine a Delta County family’s phone rings in the middle of the night. It’s their son, a freshman at a Texas university hours from home. His speech is slurred; he’s confused and afraid. Between panicked breaths, he describes being forced to drink, subjected to humiliating acts, and pushed beyond his physical limits by older fraternity members. He’s hurt, but he’s terrified to call for help, pleading, “Don’t tell anyone. I’ll get kicked out, and they’ll make it worse.”

This isn’t a hypothetical fear. It’s the reality facing Texas families right now, including those right here in City of Pecan Gap and across Delta County. Our children leave for universities like Texas A&M, the University of Texas, or the University of Houston, seeking community and tradition. Too often, they find a culture of dangerous coercion concealed behind Greek letters and time-honored rituals.

A stark example is unfolding right now in Houston. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge who suffered catastrophic injuries in the fall of 2025. As detailed in a $10 million lawsuit, his “pledge education” involved a degrading “fanny pack” rule, sleep deprivation, and extreme physical abuse—including being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints, led to a medical crisis. He developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring a four-day hospitalization. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was swiftly suspended and then shut down, with UH calling the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This case is a critical marker for every Texas family. It proves that severe, life-altering hazing is not a relic of the past but a present and active danger. If this can happen at a major university like UH, it can and does happen across the Texas higher education system where our children study.

This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and families in City of Pecan Gap, Cooper, Lake Creek, and throughout Delta County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, the national patterns that repeat on our campuses, and the legal pathways to accountability. Our goal is to arm you with knowledge, because when institutions fail to protect students, families must know how to fight back.

IF THIS JUST HAPPENED: IMMEDIATE STEPS FOR DELTA COUNTY FAMILIES

• If Your Child Is in Immediate Danger: Call 911 or campus police immediately. Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• Within the First 48 Hours:
  • Seek Medical Attention: Go to the ER or urgent care. Document everything, even if injuries seem minor.
  • Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of ALL group chats (GroupMe, texts, Instagram DMs). Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items (clothing, paddles, receipts).
  • Write It Down: Record everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts.
  • Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority. Sign anything from the university or an insurance company. Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their story.
• Contact Specialized Legal Help: Evidence disappears within days. Universities move quickly to control narratives. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We secure evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is no longer just about “hell week” or simple pranks. It is a calculated system of power, control, and psychological manipulation that exploits a young person’s desire to belong. For families in Delta County, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing the danger.

The Core Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, maintaining membership in, or holding office in any organization. If the act endangers the student’s physical or mental health or safety, it is hazing under Texas law. Critically, your child’s “consent” or “agreement” to participate is not a legal defense.

Modern hazing tactics have evolved into several dangerous categories:

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The leading cause of hazing deaths. This includes forced chugging, “family tree” or “Bible study” drinking games, and coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.
• Physical Hazing: Extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), paddling, beatings, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme elements, and dangerous “retreat” activities.
• Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or roles, and acts rooted in racism, sexism, or homophobia.
• Psychological & Digital Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats, and 24/7 digital control via group chats that demand instant responses at all hours. This now includes public shaming on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram.

This behavior is not confined to social fraternities. It permeates sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit organizations (like cheer or dance), marching bands, and other campus clubs. Wherever a power imbalance exists between new and existing members, and where “tradition” is used to justify abuse, hazing can take root.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Codes & Civil Liability

For Delta County families navigating a hazing crisis, understanding the dual legal tracks is crucial. Texas has specific statutes, and federal law adds another layer of potential accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (The Hazing Statute):
Texas law provides a clear, broad definition of hazing and serious consequences. Key provisions include:

• §37.151: Defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation.
• §37.152: Establifies criminal penalties. Hazing is a Class B Misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A Misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• §37.155: States unequivocally that the victim’s consent is not a defense to prosecution. This legal principle shatters the common excuse that “they wanted to do it.”
• §37.154: Offers immunity for good-faith reporting, encouraging bystanders to call for help without fear of minor-in-possession charges.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (e.g., Delta County District Attorney, Harris County DA). Aim to punish offenders with jail time, fines, and probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. Aim to secure compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings) and hold all responsible parties accountable. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil suit. In fact, the civil discovery process often uncovers evidence that criminal investigations miss.

Federal Law Overlay:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal funds to publicly report hazing incidents and enhance prevention programs, increasing transparency.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, schools have a duty to respond under federal law.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?
A thorough investigation aims to identify every entity that failed in its duty of care:

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or directed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organized entity that permitted or encouraged the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite known patterns of abuse across their chapters.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known dangers, or failure to enforce its own policies. This applies to public universities like UT Austin and Texas A&M as well as private ones like Baylor and SMU.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, and even security companies.

National Case Patterns: The Tragic Script That Repeats in Texas

The hazing that injures Texas students is not unique. It follows a devastating national script. Understanding these patterns is key to proving that institutions had ample warning and failed to act.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night of forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The result: massive criminal charges, civil suits, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledged to drink a bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event; died of alcohol poisoning. The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally. The family reached a $10 million settlement overall.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’ Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing charges.

The Physical & Ritualized Brutality Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Blindsided and brutally tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. He died of traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal.” He suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage, requiring 24/7 care for life. His family settled with 22 defendants.

The Athletic & Institutional Failure Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): A sweeping scandal alleged sexualized and racist hazing within the program, leading to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, revealing hazing’s deep roots in high-profile sports.

What This Means for Delta County: These are not distant stories. The same national fraternities involved in these tragedies—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Texas A&M, UT Austin, and UH. The patterns are foreseeable, and the legal precedents they set empower Texas families to demand equal accountability.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Delta County Students Go

Delta County families invest in higher education across Texas. When hazing occurs, the response and legal landscape can vary significantly by campus. Here is what you need to know about the universities your children may attend.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For many in our region, Texas A&M is a primary destination. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture and robust Greek life demand specific scrutiny.

• Notable Incidents: In 2021, two Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) pledges at A&M alleged they were doused with a mixture containing industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgery. They filed a $1 million lawsuit. Separately, a 2023 lawsuit against the university alleged a Corps of Cadets member was subjected to degrading sexualized hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position.
• Legal Context: Civil cases here may involve both the national fraternity and the university’s oversight of the Corps. A&M’s status as a public institution invokes certain sovereign immunity defenses, but exceptions for gross negligence and deliberate indifference apply.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin’s size and prestige come with a documented, public history of hazing violations.

• Transparency Tool: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log. A recent entry shows the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Legal Advantage: This public record is a powerful tool for families. It demonstrates prior knowledge and a pattern of conduct, which can be used to prove negligence against both the chapter and the national organization.

University of Houston

As seen in the active Bermudez case, UH is a current battleground for hazing accountability.

• The Active Case: Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is a live example of complex, institutional hazing litigation. The lawsuit names 13 individual members, the chapter, the national fraternity, the housing corporation, and the UH System Board of Regents.
• Jurisdiction for Delta County Families: While UH is in Harris County, Texas civil procedure allows for lawsuits to be filed where defendants reside or where acts occurred. We manage the complex logistics so families in Delta County can focus on recovery.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)

These private institutions have their own histories and legal considerations.

• Baylor: Has faced scrutiny over campus culture, including a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that led to multiple player suspensions. Private university status does not shield them from liability for negligent supervision.
• SMU: A 2017 Kappa Alpha Order chapter suspension for paddling and forced drinking highlights that hazing persists on affluent, private campuses.

For All Campuses: The common thread is institutional self-preservation. Universities often initiate internal “investigations” that prioritize limiting liability over uncovering truth. Having an experienced legal team from the outset ensures your family’s narrative and evidence are preserved.

The Greek Organizational Maze: Tracking Liability from City of Pecan Gap to National Headquarters

When hazing occurs, the college chapter is rarely the only responsible entity. A network of legally distinct organizations, often with significant assets and insurance, stands behind them. Our investigative approach, what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, maps this maze to identify all sources of accountability.

The Data-Driven Directory:
We maintain and utilize a proprietary database built from public records to understand the Greek ecosystem impacting Texas students. This includes IRS filings for Texas-registered Greek organizations (over 125 entities), university campus rosters, and metro-level organizational data. For example, our data shows the interconnected nature of Greek life across Texas metros, from the 188 Greek-related organizations in the Houston metro to the extensive networks in Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin.

Why National Histories Matter:
Fraternities and sororities are national brands. When a chapter at UT or Texas A&M repeats the same dangerous “tradition” that killed a pledge at Bowling Green or LSU, it proves the national organization failed to learn, enforce its policies, or prevent a foreseeable harm. We use national hazing incident databases to demonstrate these patterns, building a case for negligent supervision against the headquarters.

Sample Public Records (Illustrative):
Our research into the backbone of Texas Greek life includes entities like:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 74-6064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 Filing – Epsilon Kappa Chapter Alumni)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 26-3170920, Denton, TX 76204 (IRS B83 Filing – Texas Woman’s University Chapter)

This is not an accusation but a demonstration of the complex organizational web we navigate. The relevant house corporation, alumni chapter, or national foundation that holds insurance or assets can be a key defendant in securing full compensation for your family.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, aggressive strategy from day one. It is a fight against institutions with deep pockets and experienced defense counsel. Here is how we build a case for Delta County families.

Phase 1: Evidence Preservation & Investigation (The First 72 Hours are Critical)

• Digital Forensics: Securing deleted group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), social media posts, and location data. We work with experts to recover what members try to erase.
• University & National Discovery: Using legal subpoenas and requests to obtain the chapter’s disciplinary history, the national fraternity’s risk management files, and all internal university communications about the incident and the involved organization.
• Witness Interviews: Identifying and speaking with other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders before stories are “coordinated.”
• Medical & Economic Analysis: Gathering all medical records and engaging life-care planners and economists to document the full, long-term cost of the injuries—whether it’s future therapy for PTSD or lifetime care for a catastrophic brain injury.

Phase 2: Establishing Liability & Damages
We construct a legal narrative that targets every link in the chain of failure:

1. Individual Recklessness: The members who committed the acts.
2. Chapter Culture: The local leadership that fostered or allowed the environment.
3. National Negligence: The headquarters that failed to train, supervise, or act on known patterns.
4. University Deliberate Indifference: The school that knew or should have known of the risks and failed to take reasonable steps to protect students.

The Damages We Fight to Recover:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or malicious conduct, we seek damages intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future behavior.

A Practical Guide for Delta County Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Red Flags:

• Unexplained injuries, burns, or limping.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
• Personality shifts: increased anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money for “fines” or “supplies.”

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m worried about you. Is anything happening that makes you feel unsafe or humiliated?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are in danger, get them out. Your child’s safety is more important than their membership.
3. Document & Preserve: Follow the evidence steps outlined above. Write down what they tell you with dates.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Before Reporting: Contact us before you file formal reports with the university. We can help you navigate the process to avoid missteps that weaken your position.

For Students: Your Rights & Exit Strategies

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies abuse. If you feel pressured, coerced, or endangered, it is hazing.
• How to Exit Safely: You can resign your pledge or membership at any time via email. You do not owe anyone an in-person explanation where you might be pressured. Tell a trusted friend or parent first for support.
• Reporting: You can report anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE. In a medical emergency, call 911. Texas law and most university policies offer “good faith” amnesty for those who call for help.

Critical Mistakes That Can Undermine a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or social media is often construed as destroying evidence.
2. Confronting the Chapter Directly: This triggers their legal defense and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Resolution Papers: Never sign any waiver, release, or settlement offer from the university or its insurer without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be mined by defense attorneys for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, memories fade, and statutes of limitations run.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Delta County Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who understand this specific, complex battle. You need attorneys who know