Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Tye Families Seeking Justice and Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed in Texas, You Are Not Alone

A pre-dawn phone call wakes you. Your son, a freshman at a Texas university, is slurring his words. Between gasps, he tells you he’s been at a “Big Brother” event for his fraternity. They made him drink an entire bottle of liquor. He’s scared, he’s sick, and he’s begging you not to call anyone because the older members warned him they’d “all get in trouble.” You’re three hours away in Tye, feeling utterly helpless. This is the nightmare scenario facing more Texas families than most realize.

For parents in Tye, Taylor County, and across West Texas—whose children often attend Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, or McMurry University right here at home, or who travel to major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or the University of Houston—hazing is not a distant abstraction. It is a present, insidious threat hidden behind traditions, brotherhood, and sisterhood. Right now, in a Harris County courtroom, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered kidney failure after alleged abuse by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This active, $10 million lawsuit is proof that catastrophic hazing happens in Texas, and that families have powerful legal recourse.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for you—parents and families in Tye, Texas. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas and federal law, examine patterns at universities your children attend, and detail the legal path to justice and accountability. Our firm, Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC), represents hazing victims and their families across Texas. We bring a unique combination of insider insurance knowledge, complex institutional litigation experience, and a data-driven investigative strategy to these cases.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN TYE

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: Insist on an ER visit. Brown urine, extreme muscle pain, confusion, or vomiting are medical emergencies. Tell doctors your child was hazed.
2. Preserve Evidence: BEFORE anything is deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, text threads).
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles with a ruler for scale.
   • Save physical items (soiled clothing, receipts, any objects used).
3. Document Everything: Write down who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
   • Sign anything from the school or an insurance adjuster.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence vanishes quickly. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We serve families throughout Texas, including Tye and all of Taylor County.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is no longer just about paddling in a dusty basement. It is a sophisticated, often digitally-enabled system of coercion that endangers mental and physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining status in a group. For Tye families, understanding its evolution is crucial to recognizing the warning signs.

The Modern Definition: Coercion, Not Consent

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) 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 initiation, affiliation, or membership. Critically, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense. The power imbalance between pledges and members, combined with the fear of social exclusion, means true voluntary agreement is often impossible.

The Four Categories of Contemporary Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly form. This includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor (like in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), and coerced consumption of drugs or harmful substances.

2. Physical and “Endurance” Hazing: Disguised as “workouts” or “conditioning,” this includes extreme calisthenics (100+ push-ups, 500+ squats), sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme temperatures, forced eating until vomiting, and physical beatings. The result can be rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure, exactly what hospitalized Leonel Bermudez.

3. Psychological and Humiliating Hazing: This encompasses verbal abuse, threats, social isolation, forced servitude (e.g., being on-call 24/7 as a driver), public shaming, and degrading costumes or acts. The “pledge fanny pack” at UH, filled with humiliating items, is a prime example.

4. Digital and Sexualized Hazing: The newest frontier. This includes:

• Digital Control: Mandatory 24/7 group chat monitoring, geo-tracking via apps, social media policing.
• Sexualized Abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexually degrading rituals.
• Online Humiliation: Forced participation in embarrassing TikTok challenges or sharing compromising photos.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just Fraternities

While fraternities and sororities are prevalent, hazing occurs in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit and tradition groups (like marching bands or campus service organizations)
• Academic clubs and honor societies

The common thread is a hierarchy, a tradition of secrecy, and a culture that values “earning” membership through endurance.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Tye Families Must Know

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest hazing statutes, providing both criminal penalties and civil recourse. Understanding this framework is the first step toward accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Framework

• Definition: Broadly covers any reckless or intentional act that endangers physical or mental health for initiation purposes, on or off campus.
• Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Critical Protections:
  • Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): A student “agreeing” to the activity does not absolve perpetrators.
  • Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Those who call for help in an emergency are protected from liability.
  • Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.

Civil Liability: The Path to Compensation and Accountability

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim or family to recover damages and force institutional change. They can proceed simultaneously.

Who Can Be Sued in a Civil Hazing Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or failed to stop the hazing.
2. Chapter Officers & Leaders: The president, pledge educator, risk manager—those in charge who allowed or encouraged it.
3. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it holds assets or insurance.
4. The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a defendant.
5. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, or UT can be sued for negligence if they knew or should have known about the hazing and failed to act. Universities control campus housing, recognize student groups, and have disciplinary power.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers, or security companies.

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

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, schools have specific obligations to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes, including hazing-related assaults, in annual security reports.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Inform Texas Lawsuits

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not anomalies; they are blueprints of failure. They show predictable patterns that Texas juries understand. For Tye families, these stories demonstrate the severe consequences institutions face—and the justice families can achieve.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for 12 hours. Result: Criminal convictions, massive civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’ “Timothy’s Law.”
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. Result: $10 million+ in total settlements from the national fraternity and university, with individual members facing jail time.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony in Louisiana, and a $6.1 million verdict for his family.

The Physical Assault & Ritual Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. Result: The national fraternity was convicted of felony charges and banned from Pennsylvania.

The Catastrophic Injury Pattern

• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage, leaving him unable to walk, talk, or see after a pledge reveal night. Result: Confidential multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

What These Cases Mean for Texas Families

These precedents prove that juries and courts hold national organizations and universities accountable. They establish that forced drinking is foreseeable and deadly, that delayed medical care is indefensible, and that “tradition” is no excuse. When we take a case for a family in Tye, we build on this established body of law and public understanding.

Texas University Focus: Where Tye Students Go and What Happens There

Families in Tye and Taylor County send their children to a mix of local institutions and major statewide universities. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

Local Campuses for Tye & Taylor County Families

Abilene Christian University (ACU), Hardin-Simmons University (HSU), and McMurry University all have active Greek life communities. While smaller than flagship schools, they are not immune to hazing risks. Incidents at these private, faith-based institutions often involve intense psychological pressure and mandatory activities framed as “team building” or “discipleship.”

Major Texas Universities Tye Families Attend

Most Tye students venturing beyond Taylor County head to these major hubs, each with documented hazing issues.

University of Houston (UH) – The Active Case in Our Office

UH is ground zero for one of Texas’s most significant ongoing hazing litigations, which we are leading.

• The Bermudez Case: We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi national organization, its housing corporation, and 13 individual members. The allegations, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 coverage, include:
  • The degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule.
  • Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
  • Extreme workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
  • Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
• UH’s Response: The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended and then voted to surrender its charter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This case is a live example of how we investigate, file suit, and pursue maximum accountability.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life

Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets and large Greek system present dual hazing risks.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burn Case (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
• For Tye Families: The Aggie network is strong in West Texas. Understanding that hazing occurs both in the Corps and in fraternities is critical for parents.

University of Texas at Austin – Public Records and Patterns

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, providing transparency about repeat offenders.

• Public Log Insights: Organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha have been sanctioned for forced consumption (milk) and strenuous calisthenics. Spirit groups have been disciplined for mandatory, degrading activities.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): A lawsuit alleges an exchange student was assaulted at an SAE party, suffering a broken leg and nose.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)

As private institutions, Baylor and SMU have significant Greek life but less public disciplinary transparency.

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation.
• SMU Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017): The chapter was suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When a chapter at UH, Texas A&M, or UT hazes, it is rarely an isolated incident. National fraternities and sororities have decades of incident data—data that becomes crucial in proving they knew the risks.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Uncover Liability

Our firm maintains a proprietary database built from public records to track the Greek ecosystem in Texas. This includes:

• 125+ Texas-Registered Greek Entities (IRS B83 data): House corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and Texas addresses.
• 1,423+ Greek Organizations across 25 Texas metros per Cause IQ data.
• Campus-Specific Rosters from official university websites.

This engine allows us to quickly identify every potentially liable entity behind a chapter—the local house corporation that owns the property, the alumni board that advises, and the national headquarters that collects dues. For a family in Tye, this means we don’t start from scratch; we start with a map.

National Patterns That Create Liability

A national organization’s history in other states can establish its knowledge and negligence in Texas. Examples include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of fatal “Big/Little” drinking nights (Stone Foltz).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple chapters nationwide involved in alcohol deaths, assaults, and chemical burns (including at Texas A&M).
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The Max Gruver death in Louisiana.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The Andrew Coffey death at Florida State, and now the Bermudez case at UH.

When we sue a national organization, we use their own historical incident reports to show they knew the dangers of specific rituals but failed to adequately supervise or stop their Texas chapters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, aggressive strategy from day one. For Tye families, knowing what to expect can reduce fear and empower action.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: The #1 source of evidence. We preserve and analyze:
   • Group Chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage threads showing planning, coercion, and boasts.
   • Social Media: Instagram stories, Snapchat videos, TikTok posts documenting events.
   • Deleted Messages: Through digital forensics, we can often recover what members tried to destroy.
2. Photographic & Video Evidence: Photos of injuries, venues, and the hazing in progress.
3. Medical Records: ER reports, hospitalization records, lab tests (like elevated creatine kinase proving rhabdomyolysis), and psychological evaluations for PTSD.
4. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” books, emails from nationals, and risk management reports.
5. University Records: Prior disciplinary files on the same chapter, obtained through discovery or public records requests.

The Damages Families Can Recover

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish the wrongdoers. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages:
  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, therapy, lifelong care).
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity (if injuries are permanent).
  • Educational costs (lost tuition, missed semesters).
• Non-Economic Damages:
  • Physical pain and suffering.
  • Mental anguish, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable):
  • Funeral costs.
  • Loss of companionship, love, and financial support for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or cover-ups, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets and skilled defense lawyers. Their common defenses include:

• “The Victim Consented.” We counter with Texas law §37.155 and evidence of coercion.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter; We Didn’t Know.” We use their national history and prior warnings to prove foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus.” We establish their control and benefit from the chapter regardless of location.
• “We Have an Anti-Hazing Policy.” We show the gap between their paper policy and lax enforcement.

Our insider knowledge from Mr. Lupe Peña’s years as an insurance defense attorney is invaluable in anticipating and dismantling these tactics.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Tye Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes, secretive phone use, sudden academic decline, and fear of discussing group activities.
2. Talk to Your Child: Use open, non-judgmental questions. “I’m worried about you. Are you being asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable or that you have to keep secret?”
3. Prioritize Health & Evidence: Medical care comes first. Then, help your child safely preserve evidence (see our video on using your phone to document a case).
4. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Before reporting to the university, consult with an attorney. We can help you navigate the process, protect evidence, and avoid common pitfalls.
5. Understand the University’s Role: Schools often prioritize damage control. Document all communications. Do not sign any agreement without an attorney’s review.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Is This Hazing? If you feel pressured, unsafe, or humiliated to belong, it likely is. Trust your instincts.
• How to Exit Safely: Your safety is paramount. You can resign at any time via email/text. If you fear retaliation, contact the Dean of Students and campus police immediately.
• Reporting Options: You can report to campus authorities, local police, or anonymously via the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reports.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos. Tell a trusted adult.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: This looks like a cover-up and destroys your claim.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers their defense lawyers and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Agreements: Universities may offer quick, low-value settlements that waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys will scour your profiles for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence decays daily. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions for Tye Families

Q: Can we sue a public university like Texas A&M or UT?
A: Yes. While sovereign immunity provides some protection, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing employees in their personal capacity. Universities often settle to avoid the discovery process and bad publicity.

Q: How much does a hazing lawsuit cost?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we win your case through a settlement or verdict. Learn more in our video on how contingency fees work.

Q: Will our names be public?
A: Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We aggressively negotiate for privacy through sealed settlements and protective court orders.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus Airbnb?
A: Location does not absolve liability. The university and national organization can still be responsible based on their sponsorship and control of the chapter. The event organizers and property owner may also be liable.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases: Our Commitment to Tye Families

When your family is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the profound human cost and the complex legal battlefield. You need attorneys who have faced billion-dollar institutions and won. At The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), we bring a unique set of qualifications to hazing litigation.

Our Proven Experience

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a multi-million dollar, multi-defendant case that is making state headlines. We are in the fight right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and minimize claims. We use their playbook against them.
• Complex Institutional Warfare: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have proven experience taking on the largest corporate defendants with unlimited legal budgets. A national fraternity or university does not intimidate us.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from thousands of public records—means we start your case with a deep understanding of the organizational landscape. We identify every potentially liable entity, from the local house corporation to the national alumni board.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can advise on all fronts.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish. Se habla Español.

We are not a settlement mill. We are trial-ready litigators who build cases to win at trial, which is how we secure maximum accountability. We fight for answers, for compensation to fund our clients’ recovery, and for institutional change to protect the next student from Tye, Taylor County, or anywhere in Texas.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to justice begins with a conversation.

Contact Attorney911 Today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email for Spanish Services: lupe@atty911.com

In your free consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options in clear, straightforward terms.
• Discuss the investigation process and realistic timelines.
• Answer all your questions about costs and fees.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Whether your child was hazed at a university in Abilene, College Station, Austin, Houston, or beyond, we have the expertise, resources, and determination to help you seek justice.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation.

Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s begin the fight for accountability together.