The Ultimate Guide to Hazing Lawsuits: A Resource for Round Top, Texas Families

If Your Child Has Been Hazed, You Are Not Alone

Picture this: Your son from Round Top returns to Texas A&M after a weekend visit home. He seems quieter, withdrawn. You notice unexplained bruises on his back he dismisses as “just working out.” His phone buzzes constantly with GroupMe notifications at all hours—he jumps to respond each time. A few weeks later, you get a call from the hospital in College Station. He’s in the ER with acute kidney failure, his urine is brown, and doctors are diagnosing rhabdomyolysis from extreme physical overexertion. When you ask what happened, he whispers, “I can’t say. They told me not to tell anyone.”

This exact medical crisis happened to a real Texas student. Right now, we’re representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, housing corporation, and 13 fraternity leaders. According to the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case, Bermudez was subjected to a “pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule, forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. The result? Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and four days of hospitalization with ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

If you’re a parent in Round Top, Fayette County, or anywhere in Texas, this guide is for you. We’ll explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects your child, what’s happening at Texas campuses where Round Top families send students, and what legal options exist for accountability and recovery. Whether your child attends a school just down the road or hours away, Texas hazing law and experienced Texas counsel can help.

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)
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if they insist they are “fine”
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot group chats, photograph injuries, save physical items
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh
  • Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post on social media
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate guidance. You can also watch our video on using your phone to document evidence for best practices.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about “hell week” pranks. It’s a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and physical risk that organizations have become sophisticated at hiding. For Round Top families unfamiliar with modern Greek life dynamics, understanding these evolving tactics is crucial.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Under Texas law, hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group that endangers mental or physical health or safety. Crucially, “I agreed to it” is not a defense in Texas. The power imbalance between pledges and members, combined with social pressure and fear of exclusion, means true voluntary consent rarely exists.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced “lineup” drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, games where wrong answers mean shots. This remains the most common cause of fatal hazing.
• Physical Hazing: “Smokings” with extreme calisthenics (like the 500 squats in the UH case), paddling, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme elements, and forced consumption of unpalatable foods until vomiting.
• Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), degrading costumes, and role-playing with racist or sexist overtones.
• Psychological & Digital Hazing: 24/7 group chat monitoring requiring instant response, social media humiliation, isolation from non-members, and verbal abuse framed as “tradition.”

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often in the headlines, hazing pervades many groups:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups
• Athletic Teams (Varsity and Club Sports)
• Spirit & Tradition Groups (like Texas A&M’s Corps or UT’s spirit organizations)
• Marching Bands and Performing Arts Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The common threads are power imbalance, secrecy, and the exploitation of a desire to belong.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Round Top Families Need to Know

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest anti-hazing statutes, but navigating the legal system requires understanding both criminal and civil pathways.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37 (The Hazing Statute)

• Definition: Broadly covers intentional, knowing, or reckless acts that endanger physical/mental health for initiation or affiliation purposes. Location (on or off campus) doesn’t matter.
• Criminal Penalties: Ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail) to a State Jail Felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity/sorority itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states a victim’s “agreement” is irrelevant.
• Good-Faith Reporting Protection: Those who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith receive immunity from certain liabilities.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims and families. Aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases are where findings of negligence, wrongful death, and emotional distress lead to financial recovery and policy changes.

The two processes can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction isn’t needed to win a civil case, but it can significantly strengthen it.

Federal Law Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing transparently and maintain public data, strengthening prevention (phased in through 2026).
• Title IX & Clery Act: When hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations trigger. Clery requires reporting of certain connected crimes.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

• Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
• The Local Chapter as an entity.
• National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters that set policies, collected dues, and failed to supervise despite known patterns.
• Universities & Governing Boards (like the UH System Board of Regents) for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference.
• Third Parties like property owners of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Keep Repeating

The tragic cases below aren’t just news stories—they’re legal precedents that show how courts and juries view hazing liability. The same patterns appear in Texas cases.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Bid-acceptance night with dangerous drinking games. Piazza fell multiple times, captured on chapter security cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. Died with a 0.495% BAC. Result: Felony convictions, the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, and a $6.1 million verdict against nationals.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge told to drink a bottle of whiskey. Died of alcohol poisoning. Result: Multiple convictions, $10 million in total settlements ($7M from nationals, ~$3M from university), and the chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Died of traumatic brain injury; help was delayed. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations. Result: Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired, confidential settlements, proving hazing extends far beyond Greek life.

What This Means for Round Top Families: These cases create legal roadmaps. They establish that national organizations have prior knowledge of risks, that universities can be liable, and that juries will award significant damages for cover-ups and deliberate indifference.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Round Top Families Send Their Kids

Round Top sits in the heart of Texas, with students attending schools across the state. Understanding the specific environments and histories of these campuses is critical.

Texas A&M University – A Prime Destination for Local Students

Many Round Top and Fayette County students choose Texas A&M for its proximity and reputation.

• Campus & Culture Snapshot: Home to a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets. Tradition runs deep, which can sometimes mask abusive practices as “character building.”
• Documented Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
  • Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound face-down between beds with an apple in his mouth in a simulated sexual position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• How a Case Here Might Proceed: Investigations may involve Texas A&M University Police, Bryan/College Station PD, and Brazos County courts. The Corps’ unique military-style chain of command adds complexity.

University of Houston – The Flagship Case in Our Backyard

While farther from Round Top, UH is a major Texas institution where our firm is currently leading one of the state’s most significant hazing lawsuits.

• The Leonel Bermudez Case (Active, Filed 2025): As detailed in ABC13 coverage, this case involves extreme physical abuse leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. It names UH, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members as defendants.
• Prior History: UH has suspended chapters for hazing, including a 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case where a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.

University of Texas at Austin

• Notable Transparency: UT maintains a public “Hazing Violations” page, listing sanctions.
• Example Incidents: Pi Kappa Alpha chapter placed on probation (2023) for making new members consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Various spirit groups have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University

Both private institutions have faced hazing scandals—Baylor with its baseball team (2020 suspensions) and SMU with Kappa Alpha Order (2017 paddling and drinking incident). Their private status affects transparency but not liability.

The Greek Organizational Backbone: Public Records in Texas

Many parents don’t realize that fraternities and sororities are often legal entities with tax IDs, insurance policies, and property holdings. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records to track these organizations. Here’s a snapshot relevant to families whose students might be at Texas A&M, UT, or other schools:

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Entities in Texas

If your child is hazed, these are the types of organizations that may hold liability and insurance. We track them so families don’t start from zero.

Examples from IRS B83 Filings (Texas-Registered Greek Organizations):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786 – College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 36-4091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 filing)

Examples from Cause IQ Metro Data (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro – 188 Greek Entities):

• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Houston, TX (Alumni/house corporation)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter – Houston, TX (Undergrad chapter)
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Theta Chi Chapter – Houston, TX (Graduate chapter)

Cross-Validated Brands (Appearing in Both IRS & Cause IQ Data):

• Pi Kappa Alpha appears as both a national entity and local Texas district.
• Sigma Gamma Rho appears as multiple chapter entities across the state.
• Kappa Alpha Psi has alumni chapters and undergraduate entities registered.

This data matters because when hazing occurs, we need to identify every entity behind the letters—the local chapter, the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni association, and the national headquarters—as each may carry insurance and liability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires converting trauma into admissible evidence and proving how multiple parties failed in their duties.

Critical Evidence Categories

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, iMessage chats showing planning, execution, and cover-up attempts. Deleted messages can often be recovered via digital forensics.
2. Photos & Videos: Content shot by participants, security camera footage, social media posts/stories from the event.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” scripts, emails between members and nationals.
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports, disciplinary history of the chapter, Clery Act reports, and internal investigation files obtained through discovery.
5. Medical Records: ER reports, hospitalization records, toxicology screens, psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, RAs, and bystanders.

The Damages Families Can Recover

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, diminished earning capacity if injuries are permanent, and educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and family’s emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of especially reckless or malicious conduct, to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics

Fraternity and university lawyers have standard playbooks. We know them because our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large institutions. We anticipate their moves:

• “The Pledge Consented”: We argue consent under duress is invalid, citing Texas law.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use our data engine to show national patterns and prior knowledge.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We prove the university and nationals still exercised control and benefit.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue negligent supervision by nationals/universities is covered, and fight bad-faith denials.

Practical Guide for Round Top Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping)
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation
• Sudden secrecy about group activities
• Personality changes (anxiety, depression, withdrawal)
• Constant, anxious phone use for group chats
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or “dues”

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety: If injured or intoxicated, get to an ER.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats and DMs. Photograph injuries. Save clothing or objects. Watch our evidence preservation video.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you with dates and names.
4. Report Strategically: Consider reporting to campus police/Dean of Students AND local law enforcement. The national hazing hotline is 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
5. Consult a Lawyer Early: Before speaking to university administrators or insurance adjusters. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or secret?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences for refusing?
• Are only new members subjected to this?
  If you answered yes, it’s hazing. Your safety comes first. You have the right to leave and report. Texas law protects good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Messages: This looks like a cover-up. Preserve everything.
2. Confronting the Chapter Directly: This gives them time to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often waive your right to sue. Have an attorney review anything.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and the statute of limitations runs. In Texas, it’s generally two years from the date of injury, but act immediately.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand the unique ecosystem of university Greek life, institutional cover-ups, and high-stakes litigation against well-funded opponents.

Our Texas Hazing Litigation Advantage:

1. We’re Leading a Major Texas Case Right Now: We represent Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This isn’t theoretical—we’re actively litigating against a major university and national fraternity, mastering the intricacies of Texas hazing law in real time.
2. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
3. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We’ve faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. Universities and national fraternities don’t intimidate us.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, built from IRS filings, university records, and public data. We know the entities, their EINs, and their relationships before we even take your case.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil suits. We can advise on all facets of the legal battle.
6. Proven Results in Catastrophic Injury: We have multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in wrongful death and severe injury cases. We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to build the full value of your case.
7. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in Round Top and across Texas have full access to justice and understanding.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has hurt your child and your family, you don’t have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers; you deserve experienced advocates who will fight for you with equal intensity.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to every family. Here’s what you can expect:

1. We listen compassionately to your story.
2. We review any evidence you’ve preserved.
3. We explain your legal options under Texas law in plain English.
4. We outline potential strategies and realistic timelines.
5. We answer all your questions about the process and our contingency fee structure (you pay nothing unless we win).

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Distance is no barrier—we will come to you or meet virtually.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

Whether you’re in Round Top, Fayette County, or anywhere in Texas, if your child has been hazed at any campus organization, call us. Let us help you get answers, secure accountability, and fight for the recovery and justice your family deserves.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

• 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 Report: 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 Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: 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

Firm Website & Contact:

• Main Website & Free Consultation: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. The information is current as of late 2025. Every case is unique; outcomes depend on specific facts and law. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential consultation.