The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Resource for Howe Families and Parents Across the State

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

Imagine your child—a student from Howe, Texas, excited for their college experience—accepts a bid to join a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization. What begins as camaraderie slowly shifts. There are mandatory late-night meetings that interfere with studying. They’re constantly on their phone, anxious about missing a message in a group chat. They come home to visit looking exhausted, with unexplained bruises or a sudden change in personality. When you ask what’s wrong, they shut down or give vague answers about “tradition” and “earning their place.” Then, the unthinkable happens: a late-night call from a hospital, or a university notification about a severe hazing incident.

For families in Howe and across Grayson County, this nightmare scenario is not hypothetical. Texas universities, from the massive flagship campuses to regional schools, have seen severe hazing incidents that have left students with life-altering injuries and, in the worst cases, have cost lives. Right now, in Houston, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in recent Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after alleged extreme hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. This ongoing, $10 million lawsuit demonstrates the brutal reality of modern hazing and the complex fight for accountability against universities and national organizations.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Howe, Sherman, Denison, and throughout North Texas who need to understand hazing, Texas law, and your legal options. Whether your child attends Austin College right here in Sherman, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, or any other campus, the information that follows will equip you with knowledge about what hazing looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects students, and what steps you can take if your family is affected.

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 paddles, 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

For parents in Howe who may be unfamiliar with modern campus culture, understanding hazing requires moving beyond stereotypes of harmless pranks or simple initiation rituals. Today’s hazing is often systematic, psychologically complex, and digitally enabled, creating environments where students feel trapped between their desire to belong and their personal safety.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, under Texas law and in practical reality, “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when significant peer pressure and power imbalances exist. The dynamics between established members and new pledges create inherent coercion that courts recognize.

Main Categories of Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” chugging challenges, drinking games like “Bible study” where incorrect answers mandate consumption, and “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor. The recent University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints.

Physical Hazing
This extends beyond traditional paddling to include extreme calisthenics or “smokings” far beyond normal conditioning, sleep deprivation through mandatory late-night or early-morning sessions, food/water restriction, and exposure to dangerous environments. In the UH case, pledges were allegedly subjected to 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and cold-weather exposure in their underwear.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
These acts are designed to degrade and break down personal boundaries, including forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing degrading costumes or “pledge fanny packs” containing humiliating items, and acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones. The psychological damage from this category can be profound and long-lasting.

Psychological Hazing
This includes systematic verbal abuse, threats of expulsion from the group, social isolation from non-members, manipulation through “confession” sessions, and public shaming during meetings or on social media. The goal is often to instill absolute loyalty and fear.

Digital/Online Hazing
The smartphone era has created new avenues for control and humiliation. This includes group chat dares that must be completed immediately, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create or share compromising images, and 24/7 availability expectations where failure to instantly respond to messages triggers punishment.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities and sororities receive significant attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

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

The common threads are social status, tradition, and secrecy. These elements maintain practices even when members know hazing is illegal, creating environments where speaking out feels like betrayal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Protections

For Howe families navigating a hazing crisis, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. Texas has specific statutes, and federal laws provide additional layers of protection and potential liability.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student

Key provisions for Howe parents to understand:

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death
• Additional crimes: Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer with knowledge) and retaliating against reporters are also misdemeanors

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be criminally prosecuted if:

• The organization authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it
  Penalties include fines up to $10,000 per violation and university revocation of recognition

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§ 37.154):
A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result. This “Good Samaritan” protection is crucial—it encourages calling 911 in emergencies even if underage drinking was involved.

Consent Not a Defense (§ 37.155):
This is perhaps the most important provision for families: It is not a defense to prosecution that the person being hazed consented to the activity. Texas law recognizes that “consent” under peer pressure isn’t true voluntary consent.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• 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: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Burden of proof: “Preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not)
• Important: A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case

These cases can run side-by-side, and our firm has experience navigating both tracks simultaneously, especially through Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA).

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

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 (phased in by around 2026)
  This increasing transparency benefits families seeking accountability.

Title IX / Clery Act:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with these categories when assaults or alcohol/drug crimes occur. These federal frameworks provide additional avenues for investigation and liability.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, 13 individual fraternity leaders/members were named as defendants.

Local Chapter / Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated). The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation is a defendant in the UH case.

National Fraternity/Sorority:
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is named in the UH lawsuit. Liability often hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents at other chapters.

University or Governing Board:
Schools or regents may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents are defendants in the ongoing case. Key questions involve prior warnings, policy enforcement, and deliberate indifference.

Third Parties:
Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop theories), and security companies. The Culmore Drive residence where some UH hazing allegedly occurred was owned by a former member and spouse.

Every case is fact-specific, and our investigative process at Attorney911 involves identifying all potentially liable entities from the beginning.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What History Tells Us

Major hazing cases across the country establish patterns that repeat in Texas and inform our legal strategies. These aren’t just distant tragedies—they’re blueprints for how organizations fail to protect students and how families can seek accountability.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking led to severe falls captured on chapter security cameras. Brothers delayed calling for help for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges, significant civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway: Extreme intoxication combined with a culture of silence creates legally devastating consequences.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
During a “Big/Little” event, a pledge was given a handle of liquor and drank to dangerous levels. His death led to criminal hazing charges and FSU temporarily suspending all Greek life. Takeaway: Formulaic drinking “traditions” are predictable scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers mandated drinking led to a fatal blood alcohol level of 0.495%. Louisiana responded with the Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing statutes. Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage fueled by clear evidence.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
A pledge forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions followed, with BGSU agreeing to a $3 million settlement with the family, plus additional settlements with the fraternity and individuals totaling approximately $10 million. Takeaway: Universities face significant financial and reputational consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
A pledge at a fraternity retreat was subjected to a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual, suffering fatal head injuries while help was delayed. Multiple members were convicted, and the national fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” can be particularly dangerous, and national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits against the university and staff resulted, with head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired and later settling a wrongful-termination suit confidentially. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with systemic abuse patterns.

What These Cases Mean for Texas Families

Common threads emerge: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and organized cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. For Howe families facing hazing at Texas universities, you are not operating in a vacuum—you’re in a landscape shaped by these national lessons, precedents, and hard-won legal frameworks.

Texas University Focus: Where Howe Students Attend

Howe families send their children to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscapes, histories, and protocols at these institutions is critical when hazing occurs.

Austin College (Sherman, Texas) – Our Local Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Located just minutes from Howe in Sherman, Austin College represents the most immediate university connection for many local families. As a private liberal arts college with approximately 1,300 students, it maintains active Greek life with fraternities and sororities that play significant roles in campus social life. For parents in Howe, this isn’t a distant large state school—it’s where neighbors’ children attend, and its campus culture directly impacts our community.

Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Austin College explicitly prohibits hazing in its Student Code of Conduct, defining it consistently with Texas law. Reporting channels include:

• Dean of Students Office
• Campus Safety Department
• Anonymous reporting systems
  The college emphasizes that hazing violates both institutional values and state law.

How a Case Might Proceed:
For Howe families, an Austin College hazing case would involve:

• Local jurisdiction: Grayson County courts and Sherman Police Department
• Medical care: Potential treatment at Texoma Medical Center or local facilities
• Investigation proximity: Our ability to investigate locally without extensive travel
• Community impact: Cases affecting a smaller campus community can have significant local repercussions

What Austin College Students & Howe Parents Should Do:

• Document everything immediately—Sherman/Howe proximity means evidence preservation can begin quickly
• Report to both Campus Safety and Sherman PD if criminal acts occurred
• Understand that even at a smaller school, national fraternity/sorority involvement can complicate cases
• Seek medical documentation at local facilities, ensuring hazing is noted in records

Texas A&M University – A Major Destination

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Many Howe students attend Texas A&M, drawn by its academic programs, tradition, and relatively proximity. The university’s Corps of Cadets and extensive Greek life create multiple environments where hazing can occur. The “Aggie culture” of tradition can sometimes enable harmful behaviors under the guise of ritual.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended, and pledges sued for $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, with A&M stating it handled the matter under Corps regulations.

How a Case Might Proceed:

• Brazos County jurisdiction (College Station)
• Potential defendants: individual cadets/members, chapter/organization, national headquarters, Texas A&M University System
• Complex insurance coverage issues involving university policies and national fraternity insurance

What Howe Families with A&M Students Should Know:

• The Corps and Greek life have distinct reporting chains—understand both
• Evidence preservation is critical as group chats and communications may involve students across Texas
• Texas A&M’s size means investigations can become complex quickly

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin’s sheer scale—with over 50,000 students and approximately 60 Greek chapters—creates a complex environment. The university maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation databases, providing public insight into ongoing issues.

Public Hazing Violations Database:
UT’s public log shows recurring patterns:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education
• Various spirit organizations and other groups sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, or punishment-based practices

How a Case Might Proceed:

• Travis County jurisdiction
• UT’s transparency can benefit cases by providing prior violation evidence
• Austin’s legal environment is familiar with complex university litigation

Practical Guidance for Howe Families:

• Check UT’s public hazing database for prior violations involving your child’s organization
• Document everything—UT’s size means evidence can get lost in bureaucracy
• Understand that off-campus housing in Austin doesn’t eliminate university liability if the organization is university-recognized

Southern Methodist University

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
SMU’s private, affluent campus has a strong Greek presence that dominates social life. As a private institution, its transparency differs from public universities, but its hazing history includes significant incidents.

Documented Incident:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep. The chapter was suspended with recruiting restrictions until approximately 2021.

How a Case Might Proceed:

• Dallas County jurisdiction
• Private university status affects sovereign immunity arguments
• SMU’s administration may approach cases differently than public institutions

Considerations for Howe Families:

• SMU’s private status means different public records access
• The university’s reputation concerns may influence its response
• Dallas’s legal community has significant experience with institutional litigation

Baylor University

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Baylor’s religious identity and history of scrutiny over accountability issues (particularly following the football sexual assault scandal) create a unique context. The university emphasizes “Christian environment” while grappling with recurring misconduct issues.

Documented Incident:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the early season.

How a Case Might Proceed:

• McLennan County jurisdiction (Waco)
• Baylor’s religious branding may influence internal handling
• The university’s prior scandals have established certain investigative patterns

Practical Guidance:

• Understand that Baylor’s internal processes may emphasize “redemption” over accountability
• Document everything rigorously—internal investigations may prioritize institutional protection
• Recognize that national fraternity/sorority involvement complicates Baylor’s ability to control narratives

Additional Texas Universities Relevant to Howe Families

Howe students also attend various other institutions across the state:

University of North Texas (Denton):

• Growing Greek life community
• Denton County jurisdiction
• Proximity to DFW creates complex investigation landscapes

Texas Tech University (Lubbock):

• Significant Greek presence
• Lubbock County jurisdiction
• Remote location can affect investigation logistics

Texas State University (San Marcos):

• Rapidly growing campus with active Greek life
• Hays County jurisdiction
• Located between Austin and San Antonio legal markets

For each institution, our approach at Attorney911 involves understanding the specific campus culture, administrative personalities, jurisdictional nuances, and historical patterns that will shape your case strategy.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific and National Histories

The organizations present at Texas universities don’t exist in isolation—they’re chapters of national entities with documented histories of hazing incidents across the country. This pattern evidence is crucial for establishing foreseeability and negligence in litigation.

Why National Histories Matter

When a Texas chapter repeats behaviors that caused deaths or serious injuries at other campuses, it demonstrates that:

1. The national organization knew or should have known about the risks
2. Their prevention policies were inadequate or unenforced
3. They failed to take meaningful action to protect students

National headquarters maintain extensive anti-hazing policies precisely because they’ve seen catastrophic outcomes. When those policies exist only on paper, they become evidence of negligence rather than protection.

Organization Patterns Relevant to Texas Campuses

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

• National History: Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State (2021, $10M settlement); David Bogenberger death at Northern Illinois University (2012, $14M settlement)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, Texas State
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing events with forced consumption

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE):

• National History: Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide; traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama (2023); chemical burns case at Texas A&M (2021)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU
• Pattern: Physical abuse combined with substance hazing

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National History: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State (2017)
• Texas Presence: Chapter at UH (Beta Nu chapter now closed due to Bermudez lawsuit)
• Pattern: Extreme physical hazing combined with forced consumption

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National History: Max Gruver death at LSU (2017, led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor
• Pattern: “Bible study” drinking games and alcohol coercion

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ):

• National History: Numerous hazing suspensions including SMU chapter (2017)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, SMU, Texas Tech
• Pattern: Paddling and physical punishment traditions

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Investigative Advantage

At Attorney911, we maintain what we call our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database built from public records that allows us to identify all potentially liable entities in a hazing case. This includes:

IRS B83 Records:
Over 125 Texas-registered Greek organizations (house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies) with EINs, legal names, and mailing addresses. For example:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74##-380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 74##6064445, Nederland, TX 77627

Metro-Level Intelligence:
For the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro (which includes the Sherman-Denison area where Howe is located), Cause IQ data shows over 510 Greek-related organizations. Examples relevant to North Texas families include:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, Fort Worth, TX
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter, Denton, TX (Texas Woman’s University)
• Various Delta Kappa Gamma Society chapters throughout the region

University Enrollment Data:
Understanding where Howe students actually attend helps us build cases with appropriate jurisdictional knowledge and community context.

This investigative depth means we don’t start from zero when your family comes to us—we already understand the organizational landscape behind the Greek letters on your child’s campus.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

When hazing causes injury or death, building a successful case requires systematic evidence collection, understanding of damages, and strategic navigation of complex liability questions.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important Category):

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack
• Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
• Recovery capabilities: Even deleted messages can often be recovered through forensic examination
• Metadata: Timestamps, participant lists, editing histories

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, group chat evidence was crucial for establishing planning, participation, and cover-up attempts.

Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed by members during events
• Social media posts showing activities
• Security camera footage from houses and venues
• Medical documentation of injuries

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals and initiation scripts
• Emails/texts from officers about activities
• National policies and training materials
• Risk management files

University Records:

• Prior conduct files and disciplinary history
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports and safety statistics
• Internal communications among administrators

Medical & Psychological Records:

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports and lab results
• Surgical notes and rehabilitation records
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses)

Witness Testimony:

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

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical bills: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, ongoing treatment, medications
• Future medical expenses: Long-term care, therapy, rehabilitation
• Lost earnings/educational impact: Missed semesters, delayed graduation, reduced earning capacity
• Other economic losses: Property damage, relocation costs, funeral expenses in death cases

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Humiliation and loss of dignity
• Reputational harm

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support and companionship
• Emotional suffering of family members
• Loss of guidance for younger siblings

Punitive Damages (When Available):
Designed to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct and deter future hazing. Availability depends on case specifics and Texas statutory caps.

Insurance Coverage Complexities

Fraternities, sororities, and universities typically maintain insurance policies that become central to recovery:

• Coverage disputes: Insurers often argue hazing is excluded as “intentional conduct”
• Multiple policies: Chapter insurance, national organization insurance, university policies, individual homeowner’s policies
• Bad faith claims: When insurers wrongfully deny coverage

Our advantage at Attorney911 comes from Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how these companies value claims, use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements, and deploy delay tactics. We don’t just react to insurance company strategies—we anticipate them.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Howe Families

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries (especially with inconsistent explanations)
• Extreme fatigue and sleep deprivation beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-group activities
• Constant phone anxiety and immediate response expectations
• Personality changes: increased anxiety, depression, irritability
• Academic decline and missed classes for “mandatory” events
• Financial requests for unexplained expenses or “fines”

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally):

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are they respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
2. “What do they ask you to do as a new member? Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
3. “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
4. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to, or would there be consequences?”

48-Hour Action Checklist:

• Hour 1-6: Ensure medical safety, screenshot any messages shown, write down everything your child tells you
• Hour 6-24: Help preserve all digital communications, secure physical evidence, request medical records
• Hour 24-48: Consult with an experienced hazing attorney, decide on reporting strategy, document all university communications
• Week One: Continue medical documentation, begin formal evidence gathering, develop comprehensive legal strategy

For Students: Self-Assessment and Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university or my parents approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this from outsiders?

If You Need to Exit Safely:

• You have the legal right to leave at any time
• Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, trusted friend)
• Send a clear written resignation to chapter leadership
• Do not attend “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur
• If you fear retaliation, report those concerns to campus authorities

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages or “Clean Up” Evidence

• What seems logical: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
• Why it’s devastating: Looks like obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible; digital forensics can often recover, but original evidence is strongest
• Better approach: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly

• What feels right: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
• Why it backfires: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare defenses
• Better approach: Document everything, then let your attorney handle communications

3. Signing University “Release” or “Resolution” Forms

• What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements
• The danger: You may waive your right to sue; settlements are often far below case value
• Better approach: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting Details on Social Media Before Legal Consultation

• The impulse: “I want people to know what happened”
• The risk: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility; can waive attorney-client privilege
• Better approach: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

5. Waiting “to See How the University Handles It”

• University promise: “We’re investigating; let us handle this internally”
• The reality: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute of limitations runs, university controls narrative
• Better approach: Preserve evidence NOW; consult attorney immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (like UT Austin, Texas A&M, UH) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals personally. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity barriers. Every case requires individual analysis—call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific assessment.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face misdemeanor charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—evidence disappears quickly.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national organizations can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major cases (like the Pi Delta Psi retreat) occurred off-campus and still resulted in substantial judgments.

“Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case is public because it’s actively litigated, but many others resolve privately.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Our Texas Expertise

When your 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. At Attorney911, we bring unique qualifications specifically tailored to hazing litigation.

Insurance Insider Advantage

Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm, representing the very insurance companies that now defend fraternities and universities. He knows:

• How they value (and intentionally undervalue) hazing claims
• Their delay tactics and coverage exclusion arguments
• How they use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements
• Their entire playbook—because he used to help write it

This insider knowledge is invaluable when negotiating with insurers who assume plaintiffs’ attorneys don’t understand their strategies.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions

Ralph Manginello’s experience includes being one of the few Texas firms involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar corporations with unlimited legal resources. That same capability applies to national fraternities and university systems. We’re not intimidated by institutional defendants because we’ve faced them before and won.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience

We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifelong impacts and with medical experts to document catastrophic injuries. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability and recovery that acknowledges true damages.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise

Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) gives us unique insight into how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure and understand the strategic implications of parallel proceedings.

Investigative Depth with Digital Forensics

Our network includes digital forensics experts who can recover deleted messages, medical experts who document physical and psychological harm, Greek life culture experts, and investigators who know how to obtain hidden evidence from universities and national organizations. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Serving Howe and North Texas Families

Though based in Houston, we serve families throughout Texas, including Howe, Sherman, Denison, and all of Grayson County. We understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families right here in North Texas, whether your child attends Austin College locally or a university hours away. Our experience with Texas jurisdictional issues, university systems, and the specific challenges facing families outside major metropolitan areas makes us particularly suited to represent Howe families.

Your Next Step: Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed—whether at Austin College, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any Texas campus—we encourage you to contact us for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We’ll listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you’ve preserved (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options clearly: criminal reporting, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
• Answer your questions about costs (we work on contingency—no fee unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us immediately—take time to decide with full information
• Everything you tell us remains confidential

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Lupe Peña)

Spanish-language services available:

• Hablamos Español—Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
• Servicios legales en español disponibles

Whether you’re in Howe or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions involved have legal teams and insurance companies protecting their interests—you deserve the same level of representation protecting your child’s rights and recovery.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’re here to help, we’re here to listen, and we’re here to fight for accountability.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:
https://attorney911.com

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

UH Pi Kappa Phi Case Media Coverage:

• Click2Houston report: 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/

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) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com