Terry County Hazing Lawyer: The Definitive Guide for Parents & Students

If Your Child Was Hazed in Terry County or at Any Texas University, You Are Not Alone

Imagine your son, a bright student from Terry County, accepts a bid to join a fraternity at a major Texas university. What begins as excitement about new friends and college tradition turns, over weeks, into something darker. His phone buzzes constantly at all hours with demands from a GroupMe chat. He comes home to visits exhausted, with unexplained bruises, suddenly secretive. One night, you get a call: he’s in the ER. His urine is brown. Doctors diagnose rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure from extreme, forced workouts. The fraternity brothers who were supposed to be his mentors orchestrated it. The university, you learn, had received whispers about this chapter’s behavior before.

This is not a hypothetical. Right now, we are fighting exactly this case. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are horrific: a “pledge fanny pack” rule with humiliating contents, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and the Nov 3 workout that caused Bermudez’s medical catastrophe—100+ push-ups, 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The chapter is now shut down. We are Attorney911, and we represent Bermudez. This active, high-stakes litigation is proof of what we do for Texas families.

If you are a parent in Terry County, your child may be at a local college, or they may have ventured to schools like Texas A&M, UT Austin, University of Houston, Baylor, or SMU. The hazing risk is real at all of them. This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws that protect your child, the national patterns repeating here, and what legal options your family may have. You deserve answers, accountability, and a way forward.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING EMERGENCY

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the First 48 Hours:

• Get Medical Attention: Even if they insist they are “fine.” Document everything.
• Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
  • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord) immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (soiled clothing, paddles, receipts for forced purchases).
  • Write down everything they tell you (who, what, when, where) while memory is fresh.
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence vanishes within days. We can help secure it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Terry County and Beyond

Hazing is not just “boys will be boys” or harmless pranks. It is a calculated process of coercion, humiliation, and control that endangers mental and physical health. For Terry County families, understanding its modern forms is the first step to recognizing it.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. Crucially, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Three Tiers of Hazing

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (cleaning, errands, 24/7 driving duties), social isolation, being stripped of privileges, mandatory events that interfere with sleep or studies, and deceptive “scavenger hunts.”
2. Harassment Hazing: Causes emotional/physical discomfort. This includes verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, forced calisthenics (“smokings”), and public humiliation. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case is a textbook example.
3. Violent Hazing: High potential for injury or death. This includes forced alcohol/drug consumption, physical beatings/paddling, dangerous “tests” (like blindfolded tackles), sexualized acts, kidnapping/restraint, and exposure to extreme elements.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Corps of Cadets & ROTC Programs (especially at Texas A&M).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys, Aggie Bonfire crew historically).
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups.
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs.

The common thread is a hierarchy of power, a culture of secrecy, and the twisted notion that abuse equals loyalty.

The Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Your Rights

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

For Terry County families, Texas law provides both criminal penalties and civil recourse.

• Definition: As above, covering intentional or reckless acts that endanger health/safety for initiation purposes.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing not causing 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.
  • It’s also a crime for an officer/member to fail to report hazing they are aware of.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity/sorority/club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law is explicit (§37.155). This dismantles the fraternity’s primary excuse.
• Good-Faith Reporting Protection: Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil/criminal liability for the report itself. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim/family. Aim is compensation (damages) and institutional accountability. Claims can include negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• These can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not needed to win a civil case.

Federal Overlays: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing more transparently and maintain public data, phased in by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, the university has specific obligations to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes; hazing that involves assault or alcohol/drug crimes may be Clery-reportable.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter: The campus chapter as an entity (and its officers).
3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having prior knowledge of patterns. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national org is a defendant.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to a known risk, or Title IX violations. The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are named defendants.
5. Third Parties: Property owners (housing corporations), landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats in Texas

The tragedies below are not distant news. They are proof of predictable, preventable patterns. The same scripts—forced drinking games, brutal physical tests, deadly delays in calling for help—are used by national organizations with chapters on Texas campuses.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Fraternity brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Resulted in massive criminal prosecution and Pennsylvania’ “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking. Led to Louisiana’s felony Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. $10 million in total settlements ($7M from Pike national, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night. His national fraternity is the same one we are currently suing in the UH case.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Settlements with 22 defendants, highlighting lifelong care needs from non-fatal hazing.

The Athletic Program Abuse Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to fires, lawsuits, and confidential settlements, proving hazing pervades major athletic programs.

What This Means for Terry County Families: These cases create legal precedent. They show foreseeability. When a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi has a death in Florida (Coffey) and then a near-death in Texas (Bermudez), it destroys their “rogue chapter” defense. This pattern evidence is powerful in building a Texas case.

Texas University Deep Dive: Where Terry County Students Go

Terry County families send their students to universities across the state. The hazing risk exists at each, requiring specific understanding.

University of Houston (UH) – A Current Battleground

For Terry County families considering or attending UH, the ongoing Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is a critical case study.

• Snapshot: A large, diverse, urban campus with active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, MGC).
• Official Policy: UH prohibits hazing on and off campus. The university called the Pi Kappa Phi allegations “deeply disturbing” and noted the chapter voted to surrender its charter on Nov 14, 2025.
• Recent Major Incident: The Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is the flagship. Allegations include the “pledge fanny pack,” forced overeating, hose spraying “like waterboarding,” hog-tying another pledge, and the extreme Nov 3 workout causing rhabdomyolysis. We represent Bermudez.
• Prior History: UH has suspended chapters for hazing, including a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter in 2016 after a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.
• How a Case Proceeds: May involve UHPD, Houston Police, and courts in Harris County. Defendants can include individuals, the chapter, the national (like Pi Kappa Phi), UH, and the UH System Board of Regents.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life

Many Terry County students aspire to be Aggies. The culture of tradition is strong, both in the Corps of Cadets and Greek life.

• Snapshot: A massive campus with a powerful Greek system and the unique, tradition-heavy Corps of Cadets.
• Official Policy: Has strict anti-hazing policies for both Greek organizations and the Corps, with reporting through Student Conduct and Corps leadership.
• Documented Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (~2021): Pledges allegedly doused in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Pledges sued for over $1 million; chapter suspended.
  • Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. Sought over $1 million in damages.
• How a Case Proceeds: Can involve University Police, Bryan/College Station PD. Cases often involve complex discovery into both national fraternity records and Corps internal disciplinary systems.

University of Texas at Austin – Public Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT’s public hazing log makes it a case study in repeat offenders.

• Snapshot: A flagship campus with massive Greek life and hundreds of student organizations.
• Official Policy & Transparency: UT maintains a public “Hazing Violations” webpage, listing organizations, conduct, and sanctions—a valuable tool for families.
• Documented Incidents (from public log):
  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation, mandatory hazing prevention education.
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted at a party, suffering a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractures. Sued the chapter for over $1 million. Chapter was already on suspension for prior violations.
  • Various spirit groups and other fraternities appear on the log for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and punishment-based activities.
• How a Case Proceeds: Involves UTPD, Austin PD, and Travis County courts. The public violation log is powerful evidence of prior notice and pattern.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Private School Scrutiny

SMU’s affluent, Greek-centric culture faces its own hazing challenges.

• Snapshot: A private university in Dallas with a prominent Greek life presence.
• Official Policy: Has anti-hazing policies and anonymous reporting systems (like Real Response).
• Documented Incident: Kappa Alpha Order (2017): Chapter suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. Was under recruiting restrictions until about 2021.
• How a Case Proceeds: As a private university, SMU has fewer sovereign immunity hurdles than public schools. Cases involve Dallas PD and Dallas County courts.

Baylor University – In the Shadow of Past Scandals

Baylor’s history with institutional failure adds context.

• Snapshot: A private, Christian university in Waco rebuilding its reputation after major athletics scandals.
• Official Policy: “Zero tolerance” for hazing, with reporting through Student Conduct.
• Documented Incident: Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following a hazing investigation.
• How a Case Proceeds: Involves Waco PD, McLennan County courts. Baylor’s religious affiliation does not shield it from negligence claims.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories That Matter in Texas

The fraternity on your child’s campus is not an island. It is part of a national brand with a known history—a history that becomes central to a lawsuit. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks these connections.

Why National Histories Create Liability

National headquarters create policies and training precisely because they know the risks. When a Texas chapter repeats a deadly pattern that occurred in Ohio, Florida, or Louisiana, it proves the national knew or should have known it could happen again. This is foreseeability, a cornerstone of negligence law.

Organizational Mapping: National Patterns on Texas Campuses

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National pattern of alcohol hazing deaths (Stone Foltz at BGSU). Has faced suspensions at UH and UT.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): One of the deadliest fraternities historically. Facing a traumatic brain injury lawsuit in Alabama, a chemical burns lawsuit at Texas A&M, and an assault lawsuit at UT Austin.
• Pi Kappa Phi: National pattern includes the Andrew Coffey death at FSU. Now facing our $10M lawsuit for the Bermudez injury at UH.
• Phi Delta Theta: National pattern includes the Max Gruver death at LSU.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Has faced hazing suspensions at SMU and other campuses.

This is not guilt by association. It is evidence that national organizations fail to implement their own policies, often respond with minimal “probation,” and allow dangerous cultures to persist. In litigation, we subpoena national records to prove this.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Winning a hazing case requires a data-driven, aggressive investigation from day one. This is where our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine and litigation experience combine.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, iMessage, Instagram DMs. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos/Videos: From social media, group chats, or security cameras. The visual record is undeniable.
3. Internal Org Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between officers.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files, probation letters, Clery reports—obtained via discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: ER reports, toxicology, psychiatric evaluations for PTSD, documentation of injuries like rhabdomyolysis (high CK levels).
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, RAs, bystanders.

Damages: What Families Can Recover

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, lost educational costs, diminished future earning capacity if permanently disabled.
• Non-Economic Damages: 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 for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of especially reckless or malicious conduct, to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

Fraternities and universities have insurers who will argue “intentional act” exclusions or blame the victim. Our advantage: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows their playbook. We identify all potential policies (national, local, university, homeowners) and fight bad-faith denials.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Terry County Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Recognize the Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes, constant phone anxiety, dropping grades.
2. Talk Openly: Ask non-judgmental questions. “How are the new member events? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
3. In a Crisis: Prioritize medical care. Then preserve evidence (screenshots, photos). Write down what you’re told.
4. Document University Contact: Keep records of all calls/emails with deans or conduct officers.
5. Consult a Lawyer Early: Before evidence disappears. We can guide reporting and protect your rights.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated to join or belong, it likely is.
• You Can Leave: You have the legal right to quit. Tell a trusted person first, then send a clear resignation text/email.
• Report Safely: Use anonymous campus hotlines, the Dean of Students, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Texas Law Protects Reporters: Good-faith reporters have immunity.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

• Deleting Evidence: Preserve ALL messages, even embarrassing ones.
• Confronting the Chapter: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
• Signing University Papers: Do not sign waivers or “resolution” agreements without an attorney.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense lawyers scour online posts for inconsistencies.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses scatter, statutes of limitations run.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we sue a public Texas university? Yes. While sovereign immunity exists, exceptions apply for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Universities often settle to avoid discovery.
• What if it happened off-campus? Location does not matter. Liability is based on sponsorship, control, and foreseeability.
• How long do we have to sue? Generally, 2 years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions exist. Act with urgency.
• Will our name be public? Most cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy.

Why Attorney911 for Your Terry County Hazing Case

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need attorneys who understand institutional power, insurance tactics, and how to investigate complex campus abuse. You need Attorney911.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have taken on billion-dollar defendants with limitless legal budgets. National fraternities and major universities do not intimidate us.
• Active, High-Stakes Case Leadership: Right now, we are lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively fighting one of the most serious cases in the country.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. We use public records (IRS filings, university data, corporate registries) to map the full network of liability—national HQs, housing corporations, alumni associations—from day one.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure that often accompanies hazing. We can advise on all facets of the case.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the full diversity of Texas families.

We serve Terry County and families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We work on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win your case.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone: Contact Us Today

If hazing has hurt your child, you are likely feeling isolated, angry, and overwhelmed. The institution may seem more concerned with its reputation than your child’s well-being. We are here to change that dynamic.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. In it, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly.
• Outline the investigation process.
• Answer your questions about timelines and costs.
• There is no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to empower you with information.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ today. Let us help you get answers, secure accountability, and protect other students from suffering the same pain.

Contact Attorney911 – The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC

• 24/7 Free Consultation Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com | For Spanish: lupe@atty911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. We encourage you to seek legal counsel for advice on your particular situation.