Hazing Victims in Texas: Your Rights, Your Justice

This Happened in Houston. It Could Happen at Your Texas University.

On November 21, 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a young man was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing. He was waterboarded with a garden hose, forced to do 500 squats until he collapsed, struck with wooden paddles, and made to eat until he vomited—all as part of a so-called “initiation.”

This wasn’t an accident. This was torture.

And here’s the worst part: It wasn’t the first time.

• In 2017, a Pi Kappa Phi member at Florida State died from forced alcohol consumption.
• In 2017, a University of Houston student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen from hazing at another fraternity.
• Eight years later, the same fraternities, the same universities—nothing changed.

Now, it’s happening in Texas. And if it happened at UH, it could happen at your school.

Texas Universities Where Hazing Happens

Hazing isn’t just a problem at the University of Houston. It happens across Texas—at major universities, private colleges, and even high schools. The same fraternities, sororities, and organizations that hazed our client in Houston have chapters at Texas schools near you, including:

Major Texas Universities with Greek Life:

• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Texas at Austin
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock)
• Baylor University (Waco)
• Texas State University (San Marcos)
• University of North Texas (Denton)
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) (Dallas)
• Rice University (Houston)
• Texas Christian University (TCU) (Fort Worth)
• University of Houston-Downtown

Fraternities & Sororities with Documented Hazing Histories:

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Texas, they face the same risks.

What Texas Parents Need to Know About Hazing

1. Hazing Is Illegal in Texas—But It Still Happens

Texas has strong anti-hazing laws (Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157), but fraternities, sororities, and other organizations ignore them—because they know universities won’t stop them.

Texas law defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization.”

This includes:
✅ Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, branding)
✅ Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs—until vomiting)
✅ Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, early-morning drills)
✅ Psychological torture (humiliation, threats, isolation)
✅ Extreme physical exertion (500 squats, bear crawls, 100-yard sprints)
✅ Waterboarding & simulated drowning (yes, this happens in Texas)

Texas law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense.
Even if your child “agreed” to participate, they cannot legally consent to hazing.

2. Hazing Can Kill—And It Has in Texas

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s dangerous, illegal, and sometimes deadly.

Nationwide, hazing has caused:

• Alcohol poisoning (forced drinking until death)
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure—like our UH client)
• Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
• Heatstroke & hypothermia (from extreme outdoor activities)
• Suicide (from psychological trauma)

In Texas alone, hazing has led to:

• Hospitalizations (like Leonel Bermudez at UH)
• Internal injuries (like the 2017 UH student with a lacerated spleen)
• Near-death experiences (students left unconscious, requiring emergency care)

If your child is being hazed, they could end up in the hospital—or worse.

3. Universities & National Organizations Are Complicit

Fraternities and sororities don’t act alone. Universities and national organizations enable hazing by:
❌ Ignoring prior incidents (UH knew about hazing in 2017 but did nothing)
❌ Failing to supervise (national fraternities don’t enforce their own anti-hazing rules)
❌ Covering up incidents (when hazing is exposed, they “suspend” chapters quietly)
❌ Putting reputation over safety (universities care more about Greek life donations than student safety)

In our case:

• University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred.
• Pi Kappa Phi National knew about a “hazing crisis” but failed to stop it.
• Both institutions had 8 years to prevent this—after prior incidents—but did nothing.

If your child is hazed at a Texas university, the school is just as responsible as the fraternity.

4. You Can Sue—And Win Millions

Hazing victims and their families have the right to sue—and win big.

Texas hazing cases have resulted in:

If your child is hazed in Texas, you can sue:
✔ The local fraternity/sorority chapter
✔ The national organization (they have deep pockets)
✔ The university (if they knew or should have known)
✔ Individual members (they can be held personally liable)

And you can win millions.

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Texas

STEP 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

If your child is injured, take them to the ER right away. Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can be life-threatening if untreated.

Signs your child may be hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
• Extreme exhaustion (can’t walk, can’t stand)
• Dark urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
• Vomiting after “events”
• Sudden anxiety, depression, or withdrawal
• Fear of talking about their organization

STEP 2: Preserve ALL Evidence

Do NOT let the fraternity, sorority, or university destroy evidence.

Save:
✅ Text messages & GroupMe chats (screenshots of hazing discussions)
✅ Photos & videos (of injuries, hazing activities, fraternity houses)
✅ Social media posts (even if deleted, we can recover them)
✅ Medical records (ER visits, hospital stays, therapy notes)
✅ Witness contact info (other pledges, friends, bystanders)
✅ Any “pledge manuals” or schedules (documents outlining hazing activities)

Do NOT:
❌ Delete anything (even if it’s embarrassing—it’s evidence)
❌ Talk to the fraternity/sorority leadership (they’ll try to cover it up)
❌ Sign anything (they may try to get you to waive your rights)
❌ Post about it on social media (defense will use it against you)

STEP 3: Call a Texas Hazing Lawyer—NOW

The clock is ticking. In Texas, you have only 2 years to file a lawsuit after a hazing injury.

We offer:
✔ Free, confidential consultations (no obligation)
✔ No upfront costs (we only get paid if you win)
✔ Aggressive representation (we’ve won millions for hazing victims)
✔ Nationwide reach (we can help Texas families anywhere)

Call us 24/7 at:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Or email:
📧 ralph@atty911.com

Why Texas Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

While other law firms talk about hazing, we’re actively litigating a $10 million hazing case in Texas. We know how to win.

2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense

Fraternities and universities will argue: “Your child agreed to participate.” Texas law says that doesn’t matter. We’ll make sure their excuses don’t work.

3. We Go After EVERYONE Responsible

We don’t just sue the fraternity. We sue:
✔ The national organization (they have millions)
✔ The university (they own the property, they failed to protect)
✔ Individual members (they can be held personally liable)

4. We’ve Won Millions for Hazing Victims

We’ve secured multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in hazing cases. We know how to maximize your compensation.

5. We Fight for Texas Families—Wherever You Are

We’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve hazing victims across Texas and nationwide. We’ll travel to you.

Texas Hazing Laws: Your Rights Explained

1. Texas Hazing Is a CRIME

Under Texas Education Code § 37.152, hazing can result in:

• Up to 1 year in jail (for serious bodily injury)
• Up to 2 years in state jail (if hazing causes death)
• Fines up to $10,000

Individuals AND organizations can be criminally charged.

2. Consent Is NOT a Defense

Even if your child “agreed” to hazing, Texas law says that doesn’t matter.

“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” — Texas Education Code § 37.154

3. Universities Can Be Held Liable

If the university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be sued for negligence.

4. You Have 2 Years to Sue

The statute of limitations in Texas is 2 years from the date of injury. Don’t wait—evidence disappears, and your rights expire.

Fraternities & Sororities on Notice in Texas

To Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, and ALL Greek organizations in Texas:

We are coming for you.

• If your chapter hazes students, we will sue you.
• If your national organization fails to supervise, we will sue you.
• If the university owns your house and does nothing, we will sue them too.

The same legal strategies that secured $10M+ verdicts nationwide apply to your Texas chapter.

The Beta Nu chapter at UH learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.

Texas Parents: Protect Your Child

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed

⚠ Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, sprains)
⚠ Extreme exhaustion (can’t walk, can’t stand, sleeping all day)
⚠ Sudden weight loss (forced exercise, sleep deprivation)
⚠ Fear of talking about their organization (avoids questions, seems anxious)
⚠ Mysterious absences (late-night “meetings,” missing classes)
⚠ Changes in behavior (anxiety, depression, withdrawal)

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing

1. Ask your child directly (but don’t pressure them—they may be scared).
2. Check their phone (look for GroupMe chats, texts about “events”).
3. Monitor their social media (are they suddenly posting less?).
4. Contact a hazing lawyer (we can help even if you’re not sure).

Call Now—Before It’s Too Late

Hazing destroys lives. But justice can help your child heal.

If your child was hazed in Texas, you have rights. You have options. And you have us.

Call Attorney 911 today for a free, confidential consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Or email:
📧 ralph@atty911.com

We don’t get paid unless you win. There’s no risk—just justice.

Texas Families: Enough Is Enough.

It’s time to hold them accountable.