Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Strawn Parents & Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Need Answers—And Accountability

Every parent in Strawn, in Palo Pinto County, and across Texas sends their child to college with hope. Hope for new friends, hope for a bright future, hope for safety. But for some families, that hope shatters in the shadow of dangerous traditions. Imagine your son, hundreds of miles from home at the University of Houston, being forced through hundreds of squats until his muscles literally begin to break down. Imagine him being sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding” or being forced to consume hot dogs and peppercorns until he vomits. Imagine receiving a call that he’s in the hospital with brown urine, diagnosed with acute kidney failure.

This is not a hypothetical warning. It is the real, ongoing case of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student we at Attorney911 represent in a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 fraternity leaders. According to detailed coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez suffered rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and kidney failure after enduring what one outlet called “waterboarding, forced eating, and physical punishment.” The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended and then shut down. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

If you are a parent in Strawn, your child might be at a local campus like Tarleton State University in nearby Stephenville, or they might have journeyed to a major Texas hub like Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, or SMU. Wherever they are, the same dangerous patterns exist. Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It is a serious crime that can cause lifelong injuries or death. And when it happens, powerful institutions—universities and national fraternities—often prioritize their reputations over your child’s wellbeing.

This guide is for you: Strawn families facing the nightmare of hazing. We will explain what hazing really looks like today, the Texas laws that protect your child, the national patterns that repeat here in Texas, and what legal options your family may have. We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), Texas-based complex injury lawyers with the experience to take on universities and national organizations. We represent victims like Leonel Bermudez right now.

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:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” emergency care creates a critical record.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and DMs immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, paddles, bottles).
3. Write Everything Down: Record who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team.
   • Sign anything from the university or an 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 vanishes quickly. Universities move to control narratives. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For Strawn families, hazing might bring to mind old images of paddling or silly pranks. Today’s hazing is more systematic, digitally enabled, and dangerously disguised. It is any coerced activity tied to joining or maintaining status in a group that endangers mental or physical health.

The Modern Hazing Spectrum

1. Subtle Hazing (The “Gateway”):

• Servitude: Being “on call” 24/7 for errands, cleaning, or chauffeuring older members.
• Social Control: Required attendance at late-night meetings, isolation from non-members, answering to derogatory nicknames.
• Digital Monitoring: Mandatory 24/7 response to GroupMe chats, location-sharing demands, social media policing.

2. Harassment Hazing (The “Tradition”):

• Forced Consumption: Drinking games, “lineups,” eating gross or excessive amounts of food (like milk or hot dogs until vomiting).
• Sleep & Food Deprivation: All-night “study sessions,” withheld meals.
• Humiliating Acts: Wearing embarrassing costumes in public, being yelled at or “grilled” in interviews.
• Extreme Calisthenics: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups or squats under threat of expulsion.

3. Violent Hazing (The Catastrophe):

• Physical Assault: Paddling, beating, tackling (like the “glass ceiling” ritual).
• Forced Substance Abuse: Coerced drinking of lethal alcohol amounts (the pattern in fatal cases) or drug use.
• Sexualized Abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Dangerous Environments: Exposure to extreme cold, chemical burns (like the Texas A&M SAE case), being restrained.

The Bermudez case at UH involved all three tiers: the humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” sleep deprivation and forced labor, and ultimately violent physical workouts that caused organ failure.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

While fraternities and sororities are common settings, hazing permeates many groups:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC units (as seen in Texas A&M lawsuits).
• Athletic Teams, from football to cheerleading.
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations like the Texas Cowboys.
• Marching Bands and performance groups.
• Academic & Honor Societies.

The common thread is a power imbalance, a culture of secrecy, and the toxic belief that suffering builds loyalty.

Texas Hazing Law: What Strawn Families Must Know

Texas has specific laws criminalizing hazing and providing civil recourse. Understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37: The Criminal Statute

Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act (on or off campus) directed at a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership that endangers physical or mental health or safety.

Key Provisions for Strawn Families:

• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it’s still a crime. The law recognizes that peer pressure and coercion negate true consent.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury needing medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death (like rhabdomyolysis or kidney failure).
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or team itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.
• Immunity for Reporting (§37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or call for medical help are protected from liability. Always call 911 first.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability & Compensation

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and force institutional change.

Who Can Be Sued in a Civil Hazing Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: If it’s a legal entity with assets or insurance.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and often know about prior incidents at other chapters. Their deep pockets and insurance are key targets.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some immunity hurdles, but they can still be sued.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of unsafe housing, alcohol providers, security companies.

Federal Laws Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public data by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, strict federal reporting and response protocols apply.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragedy in Houston is not an isolated event. It follows a national script. Understanding these patterns shows that what happened to your child was foreseeable—and preventable.

The Deadly “Big/Little” or “Bid Acceptance” Night: Alcohol Poisoning

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid acceptance party with extreme drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911. Dozens faced criminal charges. Result: Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pike, $3M from university). The chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” (felony hazing). $6.1 million verdict for his family.

Takeaway for Texas Parents: The forced drinking that nearly killed Leonel Bermudez is the same pattern. National fraternities have been on notice for decades.

Physical & Ritualized Brutality

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from brain injuries after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted. Banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. Family settled with 22 defendants. He requires 24/7 care for life.

Takeaway: Off-campus retreats and violent physical rituals create catastrophic liability. Nationals cannot claim “rogue chapter” when the ritual is known.

Athletic & Institutional Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations led to multiple lawsuits, the head coach’s firing, and confidential settlements.
• Texas A&M SAE Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges were doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended; lawsuits followed.

Takeaway: Hazing is an institutional problem. Universities and athletic departments can be just as liable as Greek organizations for fostering abusive cultures.

The Texas & Strawn Focus: Where Your Child Goes to School

Strawn families often send their children to regional campuses like Tarleton State University in Stephenville or Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen. Many also aim for the major Texas hubs. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at these schools.

University of Houston: The Active Crisis

The Leonel Bermudez case is the current, stark example. The lawsuit alleges:

• Location: Hazing at the Pi Kappa Phi house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• Conduct: The degrading “pledge fanny pack,” enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties, forced overeating, and the November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.
• Injury: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, four-day hospitalization.
• Defendants: UH, UH Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members.
• Outcome: Chapter suspended November 6, 2025; charter surrendered November 14, 2025.

For Strawn Parents: UH is a major destination. This case proves severe, litigated hazing is happening at Texas schools right now. The Hoodline summary of the $10M UH hazing lawsuit emphasizes the demand for accountability.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture & Greek Life

A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets and powerful Greek life present dual risks.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth during degrading hazing. He sought over $1 million.
• SAE Chemical Burns Lawsuit (~2021): As noted above, a severe case resulting in skin grafts.
• Discipline: A&M maintains active disciplinary records for Greek organizations. Parents should check the university’s conduct logs.

University of Texas at Austin: Public Transparency & Patterns

UT Austin maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log—a resource we use to establish patterns.

• Recent Example: Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): An Australian exchange student sued an SAE chapter for over $1 million after an alleged assault causing a dislocated leg and broken nose.
• Pattern Evidence: UT’s public log shows which organizations have prior violations, crucial for proving a national fraternity’s “notice” of dangerous traditions.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

As private institutions, SMU and Baylor have their own disciplinary processes but are not immune to lawsuits.

• SMU: Has faced hazing incidents within Greek life, leading to chapter suspensions. Their private status doesn’t shield them from civil discovery.
• Baylor: Has faced scrutiny over athletic and Greek hazing, including a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that resulted in multiple player suspensions.

For All Schools: The key is that university disciplinary action does not preclude a civil lawsuit. In fact, internal findings can become powerful evidence in a civil case for damages.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Histories That Matter in Texas

The fraternity that hazes at UH is the same national brand with chapters at A&M, UT, and nationwide. This “pattern evidence” is legally critical.

How We Use the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine

For families in Strawn and across Texas, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain a data-driven directory of Texas Greek organizations to identify every potentially liable entity. For example, public IRS records show Texas-registered Greek entities that include:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated, EIN 88-2755427, San Marcos, TX 78666 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc., EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Metro Data)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Metro Data)

In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area alone, data shows over 500 Greek-related organizations. This complex web includes undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and educational foundations—each a potential source of insurance coverage or assets.

Why This Matters: When your child is hazed by “Pi Kappa Phi” at UH, we immediately investigate the national Pi Kappa Phi organization, the local Beta Nu housing corporation, any Texas-based alumni chapters, and the university. We use data to trace liability and insurance coverage up the chain, preventing defendants from hiding behind corporate veils.

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

If you’re facing this crisis, you need to know what happens next. Our approach is methodical, aggressive, and informed by insider knowledge.

Critical Evidence We Preserve & Pursue

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages. Social media posts, photos, videos (even from Snapchat). We work with experts to recover what organizations try to destroy.
2. Internal Organization Records: Pledge manuals, “tradition” books, emails between chapter leaders and national headquarters, risk management reports.
3. University Files: Prior conduct complaints against the same group, Clery Act reports, internal investigation notes (obtained through discovery or public records requests).
4. Medical Evidence: ER records, toxicology reports, diagnoses of rhabdomyolysis (like in the UH case), PTSD, or other long-term injuries. We collaborate with life-care planners for catastrophic injuries.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, RAs. We know how to secure cooperation.

We have a video on using your phone to document evidence that outlines these first steps.

Recoverable Damages for Your Family

A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, cost of delayed education, diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and love for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Our Legal Advantages: Why Attorney911 for a Texas Hazing Case

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge (Attorney Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We know their playbook.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation (Attorney Ralph Manginello): Our firm was one of the few involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants, national fraternities, or university legal teams. We have federal court experience.
3. Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results: We have a proven record of securing significant compensation in the most serious cases.
4. HCCLA Criminal Defense Capability: Attorney Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association means we understand the criminal side of hazing, which often runs parallel to civil cases.
5. Spanish-Language Services: Attorney Lupe Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.
6. Contingency Fee Basis: You pay nothing unless we win. Learn more in our video, How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Practical Guide for Strawn Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Secretive phone use, fear of missing group chats.
• Constant defense of the organization, fear of “getting them in trouble.”

What to Do:

• Listen, Don’t Confront: Create a safe space for your child to talk.
• Prioritize Health: Seek medical and psychological care immediately.
• Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist above.
• Report Strategically: You can report to campus police and the Dean of Students, but consult an attorney first to understand how it might affect a potential civil case.
• Avoid Common Mistakes: We outline critical errors in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or secret?
• Would I do this if I could say “no” without consequences?
• If the answer is “yes,” it’s hazing.

Your Rights:

• You can leave. You have the legal right to quit anytime.
• Consent is not a defense for them. Under Texas law, your “agreement” under pressure is irrelevant.
• You have reporter immunity. Texas law protects those who call 911 or report hazing in good faith.

Critical FAQ for Strawn Families

Q: How long do we have to sue?
A: Texas generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death, but critical exceptions exist. The clock starts from the date of injury or its discovery. Do not wait. Evidence disappears. Watch our video on the Texas statute of limitations.

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some immunity, but it is not an absolute bar to lawsuits, as seen in the Stone Foltz settlement with Bowling Green State (a public university).

Q: What if it happened off-campus?
A: Location does not matter. Hazing is illegal on or off campus. Universities and nationals can still be liable if they sponsored, knew about, or should have known about the activity.

Q: Will our name be public?
A: Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We aggressively protect our clients’ privacy throughout the process.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Your Texas Hazing Advocates

We are a Texas-based personal injury and complex litigation firm, but we are not just any lawyers. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

We represent Leonel Bermudez in his fight against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the trenches right now, using every tool—from our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to Mr. Peña’s insurance insider knowledge—to demand justice. We understand the devastating blend of medical trauma, institutional betrayal, and fear that hazing families face.

For Strawn parents, the geographic distance to major campuses can feel isolating when crisis strikes. We bridge that gap. We serve families throughout Texas, from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We understand the communities that feed into these universities and the unique concerns of Texas families.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has hurt your child, you don’t have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have lawyers. You should too.

Contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options under Texas law clearly.
• Outline our investigative strategy to identify all responsible parties.
• Answer your questions about the process, timeline, and our contingency fee structure.

Call Attorney911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Visit our website at https://attorney911.com to learn more about our firm and our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña.

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 the 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) 4431-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)