The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: A Resource for Point Venture Families

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

Imagine this scenario, familiar to many families in Point Venture and across Travis County: Your child, excited about making friends and finding community at college, accepts a bid to join a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization. What starts as bonding and tradition slowly shifts. There are late-night calls, unexplained exhaustion, sudden secrecy about their activities, and then—the phone call no parent wants. Your child is in the emergency room, suffering from severe dehydration, muscle breakdown, or alcohol poisoning after what was described as a “pledge event.” The organization’s leaders are minimizing what happened. The university seems more concerned about its reputation than your child’s wellbeing. You’re left feeling helpless, angry, and unsure where to turn.

This is not hypothetical. Right now, in Texas, we’re actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in recent memory. Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student at the University of Houston, suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring systematic hazing as a pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. The alleged hazing included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, and constant humiliation through a mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys.

This $10 million lawsuit, which we filed in late 2025, names not just the individual fraternity members but the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, and their housing corporation. Since the lawsuit was filed, the chapter has been suspended and voted to surrender its charter. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” But for the Bermudez family, and for any family in Point Venture facing similar trauma, those institutional responses come too late.

If you’re reading this as a parent, student, or community member in Point Venture, you deserve to know the truth about hazing at Texas universities—what it really looks like in 2025, what your legal rights are, and how to protect your family when institutions fail in their duty to keep students safe.

What This Guide Covers for Point Venture Families

This comprehensive resource is written specifically for families in Point Venture and across Travis County who have connections to Texas universities. Whether your child attends the University of Texas at Austin just minutes away, Texas State University in nearby San Marcos, or any other campus in our state, this guide will help you understand:

What modern hazing actually looks like—beyond the stereotypes, including digital coercion and psychological abuse
Texas hazing laws and your family’s rights under both state statutes and federal regulations
The reality at specific Texas campuses—UT Austin, Texas State, and other schools where Point Venture students commonly enroll
How national fraternity and sorority histories create predictable patterns of abuse
Practical steps to take immediately if you suspect or confirm hazing
How experienced Texas hazing attorneys investigate and build cases against powerful institutions

Point Venture families have deep ties to Central Texas universities. Many of your children attend UT Austin, Texas State University, Baylor University, or other campuses within driving distance. When hazing happens to them, you need local legal expertise that understands both Texas law and the specific cultures of these institutions.

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 evidence, 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 Today

For families in Point Venture who may be unfamiliar with modern campus organizations, today’s hazing bears little resemblance to the “harmless pranks” of decades past. What was once occasional roughhousing has evolved into systematic abuse, often documented in real-time through digital channels that both expose the behavior and enable its rapid concealment.

A Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

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 legal understanding—one that many families in Point Venture need to hear clearly—is that “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there exists peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion.

Under Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37), hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health or safety and occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization.

The Five Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and most dangerous—form of hazing. It includes forced or coerced drinking games like “lineups” where pledges must rapidly consume alcohol, “Bible study” or trivia games where wrong answers mean drinking, and pressure to consume unknown or mixed substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of specific foods until vomiting. These practices regularly lead to alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.

2. Physical Hazing
This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics far beyond normal conditioning (like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in the Bermudez case), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme temperatures. Physical hazing often causes rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), organ damage, fractures, and other serious injuries.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This category includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or positions, and acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case—containing condoms, a sex toy, and humiliating items—represents this psychological and sexualized abuse.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming create deep psychological wounds. This often includes cutting off contact with family and non-member friends, creating total dependency on the organization.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
This is the newest and fastest-evolving category. It includes group chat dares, social media “challenges,” pressure to create or share compromising content, 24/7 availability demands via messaging apps, and geo-tracking requirements. Digital evidence—GroupMe chats, Instagram stories, Snapchat videos—has become crucial in modern hazing litigation.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities receive most media attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils)
Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups
Spirit Squads and Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
Marching Bands and Performance Groups
Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Organizations

The common threads are social status, tradition worship, and enforced secrecy. These elements keep dangerous practices alive even when everyone knows hazing is illegal—because the perceived rewards of belonging outweigh the risks until tragedy strikes.

Texas Hazing Law: What Point Venture Families Must Know

Understanding the legal framework is crucial for Point Venture families navigating a hazing crisis. Texas has specific statutes, but federal laws also apply, creating layers of potential liability for those who harm students.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Foundation

Texas law defines hazing broadly and provides both criminal penalties and civil liability pathways. Here’s what matters most for families:

§ 37.151 Definition: Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that endangers mental or physical health or safety and occurs for pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership.

Key points for Point Venture families:

Location doesn’t matter—off-campus hazing is still hazing
Mental harm counts as seriously as physical harm
“Reckless” conduct qualifies (not just intentional harm)
Most importantly: “Consent is not a defense” (§ 37.155)

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties:

Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death
Additional charges for failing to report hazing or retaliating against reporters

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability:
Organizations can be criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing or if officers knew and failed to report. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 per violation and university recognition revocation.

§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting:
Those who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also provide amnesty for those seeking medical help in emergencies.

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
Burden of proof: Beyond a reasonable doubt

Civil Cases:

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

Critical Insight: These cases can run simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue civil justice. The Leonel Bermudez case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is primarily a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for devastating injuries and institutional accountability.

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

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

Report hazing incidents more transparently
Strengthen hazing education and prevention
Maintain public hazing data (phasing in by 2026)
For Point Venture families, this means better access to information about which organizations have violations.

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Universities must investigate promptly and equitably. Title IX applies regardless of whether the misconduct occurs on or off campus.

Clery Act:
Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics. Hazing incidents often overlap with reported assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Understanding potential defendants is crucial for building a comprehensive case:

1. Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH case, 13 individual fraternity leaders are named.

2. Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated). Chapter officers acting in official capacity face particular scrutiny.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters:
Nationals that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents elsewhere.

4. University or Governing Board:
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil rights theories. Key questions involve prior warnings, policy enforcement, and deliberate indifference. Public universities like UT Austin have some sovereign immunity protections but exceptions exist.

5. Third Parties:
Landlords of event spaces, alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), security companies, or event organizers.

Every case is fact-specific, but comprehensive litigation like the Bermudez case demonstrates how multiple entities share responsibility when systems fail to protect students.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Can Learn

Major national cases have shaped hazing law and prevention efforts. For Point Venture families, these precedents demonstrate patterns that repeat across campuses—including Texas schools.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance event with forced drinking led to fatal falls captured on chapter cameras. Help was delayed for hours. Dozens faced criminal charges; Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Lesson: Extreme intoxication combined with delayed medical response creates devastating liability.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
A “Big/Little” event where a pledge was given a handle of liquor led to death from alcohol poisoning. Criminal hazing charges followed; FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life. Lesson: Formulaic drinking “traditions” are predictable scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking led to death from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). The Max Gruver Act created felony hazing statutes in Louisiana. Lesson: Legislative change often follows public outrage over clear hazing evidence.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
A pledge night involving forced consumption of nearly a bottle of whiskey caused fatal alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions resulted; BGSU settled for nearly $3 million; additional settlements with the fraternity exceeded $7 million. Lesson: Universities face significant financial and reputational consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
A fraternity retreat included a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual that caused fatal head injuries. Help was delayed. Multiple members were convicted; the national fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Lesson: Off-campus “retreats” can be particularly dangerous, and national organizations face severe sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits followed; the head coach was fired and later settled a wrongful-termination suit. Lesson: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with systemic abuse patterns.

What These Cases Mean for Point Venture Families

Common threads emerge: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and organized cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically only follow tragedy and litigation. The patterns established in these national cases create legal precedents that strengthen cases for Texas families facing similar situations at UT Austin, Texas State, or other campuses.

Texas Universities: Reality at Campuses Point Venture Students Attend

Point Venture families have particularly close ties to Central Texas universities. Understanding the specific environments, policies, and incident histories at these schools is crucial.

University of Texas at Austin: The Flagship Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot for Point Venture Families:
UT Austin, located just a short drive from Point Venture, is the flagship Texas university with approximately 52,000 students and over 60 fraternity and sorority chapters. The Greek system is deeply woven into campus culture, with historic houses along West Campus and active recruitment. Many students from Travis County and surrounding areas participate in Greek life, athletics, and spirit organizations.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
UT maintains a publicly accessible Hazing Violations page (hazing.utexas.edu) that lists organizations, violations, and sanctions—a transparency measure exceeding many peer institutions. The university prohibits hazing on or off campus and provides multiple reporting channels: Dean of Students Office, University Police Department, and anonymous online reporting.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:
UT’s public log reveals concerning patterns:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education.
Texas Wranglers (multiple years): Various violations including forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged assault at a party resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.

How a UT Hazing Case Might Proceed for Point Venture Families:
Jurisdiction typically involves UT Police Department for on-campus incidents and Austin Police Department for off-campus events. Civil suits would be filed in Travis County courts. The university’s public violation records can significantly strengthen civil cases by demonstrating prior knowledge and patterns.

What UT Students & Parents in Point Venture Should Do:

Familiarize yourself with UT’s hazing violation database before your child joins any organization
Report immediately through multiple channels: Dean of Students (512-471-2841), UTPD (512-471-4441), and online forms
Document all communications with university officials
Understand that UT’s relative transparency doesn’t guarantee adequate protection—external legal counsel is often necessary

Texas State University: The San Marcos Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot for Point Venture Families:
Texas State University in San Marcos, approximately 30 miles from Point Venture, serves over 38,000 students with active Greek life, particularly within the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council. The university’s growth has included expansion of Greek housing and organizations.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Texas State prohibits hazing through its Student Code of Conduct and provides reporting through the Dean of Students Office, University Police Department, and an online reporting system. The university maintains disciplinary records but with less public transparency than UT Austin.

How a Texas State Hazing Case Might Proceed:
Jurisdiction may involve Texas State University Police Department or San Marcos Police Department, depending on location. Hays County courts would handle civil litigation. The university’s status as a growing institution sometimes means evolving policies and inconsistent enforcement.

Baylor University: The Waco Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot for Point Venture Families:
While farther from Point Venture, Baylor University in Waco attracts many Central Texas students with its combination of academic reputation, religious identity, and active Greek life. The university’s history includes high-profile scrutiny over handling of misconduct cases.

Documented Incidents:

Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation; staggered suspensions occurred over the early season
Ongoing patterns in Greek organizations despite “zero tolerance” policies

Considerations for Point Venture Families:
Baylor’s private religious status affects both transparency and legal strategies. Families should understand how Baylor’s specific policies interact with Texas hazing laws.

Other Universities Relevant to Point Venture Families

University of Houston: As demonstrated by the active Bermudez litigation, UH faces serious hazing challenges despite policies and reporting systems.

Texas A&M University: The Corps of Cadets and Greek systems have faced multiple hazing allegations, including a 2023 lawsuit alleging degrading hazing in the Corps.

Key Takeaway for Point Venture: Every Texas campus has hazing incidents, and every university’s response reveals their true commitment to student safety versus institutional reputation protection.

Fraternities and Sororities: Campus-Specific and National Histories

Understanding the connection between local chapters at Texas universities and their national organizations’ histories is crucial for building liability cases.

Why National Histories Matter for Texas Cases

National fraternity and sorority headquarters maintain extensive anti-hazing policies precisely because they have seen deaths and catastrophic injuries repeatedly. When a Texas chapter repeats the same scripts that caused tragedy elsewhere, that demonstrates foreseeability—a key element in negligence cases. National organizations cannot claim ignorance when the same patterns produce the same harms across multiple states.

Organization Mapping: National Patterns Repeated in Texas

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

National History: Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death at Northern Illinois University ($14M settlement)
Texas Presence: Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas State, Baylor, SMU
Pattern: Forced drinking during “Big/Little” events consistently leads to alcohol poisoning deaths

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ):

National History: Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide; traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama; chemical burns case at Texas A&M
Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, Baylor, Texas State
Pattern: Physical abuse combined with substance hazing

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

National History: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State
Texas Presence: Chapter involved in the active Bermudez lawsuit at University of Houston
Pattern: Systematic physical and psychological hazing as documented in the UH case

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

National History: Max Gruver death at LSU leading to Louisiana’s felony hazing law
Texas Presence: Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor
Pattern: Drinking games disguised as “education” or “tradition”

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ):

National History: Multiple hazing suspensions including at SMU
Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, SMU
Pattern: Physical paddling and alcohol hazing

How National Histories Strengthen Texas Cases

When we represent Texas families, we subpoena national organizations’ records to show:

Prior Incidents: Documentation of similar hazing at other chapters
Inadequate Responses: Minimal consequences for prior violations
Policy vs. Practice Gap: Thick anti-hazing manuals that aren’t meaningfully enforced
Financial Flows: Evidence that nationals continued collecting dues despite knowing about dangerous practices

This evidence supports claims for punitive damages and defeats arguments that the national organization “didn’t know” or “couldn’t control” local chapters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

For Point Venture families facing the aftermath of hazing, understanding how experienced attorneys build cases provides both practical guidance and realistic expectations.

Critical Evidence Categories

1. Digital Communications:

GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity-specific apps
Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok content
Deleted messages recovered through digital forensics
In the UH case, group chats revealed planning and coordination of hazing activities

2. Photos & Videos:

Content filmed by members during events
Social media posts and stories showing hazing in “real time”
Security camera footage from houses and venues
Medical documentation of injuries

3. Internal Organization Documents:

Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
Emails and texts from officers about activities
National policies and training materials showing what should have been prevented

4. University Records:

Prior conduct files and disciplinary histories
Campus police incident reports
Clery Act reports and safety disclosures
Internal emails among administrators about the organization

5. Medical & Psychological Records:

Emergency room and hospitalization records
Toxicology reports and lab results
Psychological evaluations documenting PTSD, depression, anxiety
Expert testimony on long-term effects

6. Witness Testimony:

Other pledges and members
Roommates, RAs, bystanders
Former members who quit or were expelled
Medical providers and first responders

Damages in Hazing Cases

Understanding potential compensation categories helps families recognize the full scope of harm:

Economic Damages:

Medical bills (past and future)
Lost educational expenses (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
Lost earning capacity (for permanent injuries)
Therapy and rehabilitation costs

Non-Economic Damages:

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

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of companionship and support
Emotional harm to parents and siblings
Lost financial contribution from the deceased

Punitive Damages:
In cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish defendants and deter future misconduct.

Strategic Considerations for Point Venture Families

Timing: Texas generally has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but exceptions exist. Evidence preservation must begin immediately.

Defendant Identification: Comprehensive cases name all potentially liable parties—individuals, chapters, nationals, universities, property owners.

Insurance Coverage: Fraternities and universities often have insurance policies with complex exclusions. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys helps navigate these battles.

Settlement vs. Trial: Most cases settle confidentially, but trial readiness creates leverage for fair settlements.

Practical Guides and FAQs for Point Venture Families

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed:

Unexplained injuries or repeated “accidents”
Extreme exhaustion, sleep deprivation
Drastic mood changes, anxiety, withdrawal
Constant secret phone use for group chats
Sudden obsession with pleasing older members
Financial requests without clear explanations
Declining academic performance

How to Talk to Your Child:

Ask open questions without judgment: “How are things with your organization?”
Express concern about specific changes you’ve noticed
Emphasize safety over status: “Your health matters more than any membership”
Assure them of your support regardless of their decisions

If Your Child Is Hurt:

Medical care first—even if they resist
Document everything—photos, screenshots, notes
Preserve evidence—don’t let them delete messages
Contact an attorney before talking to the university or organization

For Students: Self-Assessment and Safety

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe?
Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Am I being told to keep secrets from family or the university?

If You Want to Exit Safely:

Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
Send a written resignation to chapter leadership
Do not attend “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
Report any retaliation immediately to campus authorities

Evidence Preservation for Students:

Screenshot ALL group chats with timestamps visible
Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
Save voicemails, emails, any written communications
Write down names of witnesses and what they saw

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence
What families think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like a cover-up; makes case nearly impossible
Better approach: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: Triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching
Better approach: Document everything, then consult an attorney

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms
What universities do: Pressure quick settlements with waivers
Why it’s wrong: You may waive valuable rights for minimal compensation
Better approach: Never sign anything without legal review

4. Posting on Social Media
What families think: “People should know what happened”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys collect everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
Better approach: Keep documentation private; let your attorney control messaging

5. Waiting for University Investigations
What universities promise: “We’re handling this internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears; statutes run; narrative gets controlled
Better approach: Parallel investigation with legal counsel

6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Alone
What adjusters say: “We just need your statement”
Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements are used against you
Better approach: “My attorney will contact you”

FAQ for Point Venture Families

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes. Public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and individual capacity lawsuits. Private universities have fewer protections. Every case requires specific analysis—call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case evaluation.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. The Bermudez case at UH involves injuries that could support felony charges.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the activities?”
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.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from injury or death, but exceptions exist. The discovery rule may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately apparent. Time is critical—evidence disappears rapidly.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Major cases like Pi Delta Psi’s retreat hazing occurred off-campus with full liability.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize family privacy while pursuing accountability through negotiation tactics that protect your identity.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your Point Venture 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

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, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience:
Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation—one of the few Texas firms handling those cases—proves our capability against billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. National fraternities and universities employ similar defense strategies.

Active Hazing Litigation:
Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case—a $10 million lawsuit alleging systematic hazing causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. We’re not theorizing about hazing law; we’re actively litigating one of Texas’s most serious current cases.

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability:
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) signals elite criminal defense expertise. We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation and can advise on both tracks.

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
We maintain a proprietary database tracking over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. When we take your case, we don’t start from zero—we already know the organizational structures, insurance relationships, and prior incident patterns.

Our Investigative Approach

Digital Forensics Mastery:
We recover deleted group chats, social media evidence, and hidden communications through expert partnerships. In the digital age, hazing evidence is electronic evidence.

Comprehensive Defendant Identification:
We identify all potentially liable parties—not just individual members but housing corporations, alumni associations, national headquarters, and university entities that failed in their duties.

Economic Damage Maximization:
We work with economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to fully quantify lifelong impacts of injuries, ensuring settlements reflect true lifetime costs.

Privacy Protection:
We negotiate confidentiality provisions and use litigation strategies that protect your family’s identity while achieving accountability.

For Point Venture Families Specifically

We understand that Point Venture represents a close-knit community where families have deep roots and connections. When hazing affects your family:

We recognize the particular ties Point Venture students have to UT Austin, Texas State, and other Central Texas universities
We understand Travis County courts and procedures
We appreciate the community values around safety, accountability, and protecting young people
We provide localized service while drawing on statewide expertise

Your Next Steps: Contact Us Today

If you’re a Point Venture family facing the aftermath of hazing, we want to help. You don’t have to navigate this crisis alone.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you call 1-888-ATTY-911:

We Listen First: We’ll hear your story without judgment or interruption
Evidence Review: We’ll discuss what evidence exists and how to preserve it
Legal Options Explained: We’ll outline potential paths—criminal reporting, civil litigation, both, or neither
Realistic Expectations: We’ll discuss timelines, potential outcomes, and challenges
Cost Transparency: We work on contingency—no fees unless we recover compensation
No Pressure: Take time to decide what’s right for your family

Immediate Contact Information

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

Spanish Language Services:
Hablamos Español. Contacte a Lupe Peña a lupe@atty911.com para una consulta en español.

Serving Point Venture and All Texas Communities

While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas. Whether your child attends university in Austin, San Marcos, Waco, College Station, Houston, or elsewhere, Texas hazing law protects them, and we have the expertise to enforce those protections.

The trauma of hazing affects entire families and communities. In Point Venture, where community bonds run deep, that impact resonates particularly strongly. We’re here to help your family find answers, achieve accountability, and prevent what happened to your child from happening to others.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let us help you take the first step toward justice and healing.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

Click2Houston coverage: 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 coverage: 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 YouTube Videos:

Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client mistakes that can ruin your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

Homepage and contact: 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, 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
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