The Complete Guide to Hazing Injuries in Texas: A Resource for Westlake, Denton County, and All Texas Families

If your child attends a Texas university, the danger is real. It’s not just about “boys being boys” or harmless pranks. In the fall of 2025, a University of Houston student named Leonel Bermudez suffered catastrophic kidney failure after a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity hazing ritual. He was forced to perform hundreds of push-ups and squats, consume dangerous amounts of food until vomiting, and was sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner likened to waterboarding. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis—a severe, life-threatening muscle breakdown. This is not an isolated incident in another state; this lawsuit is happening right now in Harris County, Texas, and our firm, Attorney911, represents him.

For families in Westlake, Southlake, Keller, and across Denton County, this case is a stark warning. The universities your children attend—whether the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or schools across the country—harbor organizations with a documented history of dangerous behavior. This guide is for you: the Texas parent who needs to understand what modern hazing looks like, what the law says, and what your family’s rights are when tradition turns into trauma.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us, Attorney911, at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance for crises.

In the first 48 hours, you must:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek professional evaluation. Internal injuries, kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis, and psychological trauma are not always visible.
2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items involved. Do not let your child delete anything.
3. Document Everything: Write down names, dates, locations, and everything your child tells you while their memory is fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow the destruction of evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney immediately. Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities often move to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential, and urgent consultation.

Hazing in 2025: It’s Not What You Think

Hazing has evolved. It’s no longer just about paddling in a basement. It is a calculated system of psychological control, physical coercion, and digital surveillance designed to break down individuals to build group loyalty. For parents in Westlake and across North Texas, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in protecting your child.

The Modern Definition: Hazing is any intentional or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in any organization.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing:

1. Subtle Hazing: This establishes power imbalance and sets the stage for worse. It includes forced servitude (24/7 driving duties, cleaning), social isolation, being “on call” via group chat, mandatory events that interfere with academics, and demeaning nicknames.

2. Harassment Hazing: This causes measurable discomfort and harm. It includes sleep deprivation, forced food/water restriction, verbal abuse and humiliation, and forced physical activity beyond safe limits (“smokings,” extreme calisthenics).

3. Violent Hazing: This has a high potential for severe injury or death. It encompasses forced alcohol consumption (e.g., “Big/Little” drinking games), forced drug use, physical beatings and paddling, sexualized acts and assault, dangerous physical tests (“glass ceiling” rituals), kidnapping, and exposure to extreme elements.

Where It Happens in Texas: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is pervasive in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Varsity and club athletic teams
• Spirit groups (cheer, mascots, Texas Cowboys/Co-eds)
• Marching bands and performance ensembles
• Academic and cultural clubs

The common thread is a toxic combination of tradition, secrecy, and power.

Texas Hazing Law & Legal Liability: A Framework for Justice

Texas has strong laws on the books. Understanding them is crucial for Denton County families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing):

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation. Location (on or off campus) does not matter.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Importantly, consent is NOT a defense under Texas law (§37.155).
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Immunity for Reporting: Individuals who in good faith report hazing or call for medical help are generally immune from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement (e.g., underage drinking).

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA). Aim is punishment (jail, fines). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim/family. Aim is compensation for damages and accountability. This is where we help families recover for medical bills, pain and suffering, and future care.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an entity, if it authorized or enabled the conduct.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns at other chapters.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for deliberate indifference to a known, substantial risk. This is complex with public universities (like UNT, UT, A&M) due to sovereign immunity, but not impossible.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, and even alcohol providers under dram shop laws.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragedies at universities across the country follow a heartbreakingly predictable script. These are not “isolated incidents”; they are patterns that directly inform the risks at Texas schools.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script:

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of liquor; died of alcohol poisoning. $10+ million in settlements.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after falls during a bid acceptance night; help was delayed for hours. Dozens of criminal charges and a new Pennsylvania law.

The Physical Torture Script:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head trauma during a blindfolded “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 over 20 defendants.

The Athletic & Organizational Script:

• Northwestern University Football (2023): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits and the firing of the head coach.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges allegedly doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.

The Takeaway for Texas Families: These national patterns of forced drinking, physical brutality, and cover-ups are the exact patterns we see in Texas cases. National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon operate with the same playbook in Houston, College Station, and Austin as they do in Ohio or Louisiana.

Texas Universities Under the Microscope: Where Westlake Families Send Their Kids

University of North Texas (UNT) & Texas Woman’s University (TWU) – The Denton County Hubs

For Westlake and Southlake families, UNT and TWU are in your backyard. The Greek life and organizational culture here directly impact your community.

Campus Snapshot: UNT is a major public university with an active Greek system encompassing IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and NPHC (Divine Nine) organizations. TWU also has sororities and student organizations. Hazing risks exist in both Greek life and other student groups.

The Legal & Practical Landscape for Denton County Families:

• Jurisdiction: Hazing incidents may involve the UNT Police Department, Denton Police Department, or Denton County Sheriff’s Office. Civil cases would typically be filed in Denton County courts.
• Local Legal Insight: We understand the local legal environment. The proximity of these schools means evidence and witnesses are often local, and we know how to navigate these specific jurisdictions effectively.
• Action Steps: If an incident occurs at UNT or TWU, report immediately to the Dean of Students and campus police. Document everything. The close-knit nature of the Denton community can work for or against an investigation; having an experienced attorney manage communications is critical.

Texas A&M University – Tradition & Risk in the Corps and Greek Life

Many students from the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including Denton County, choose Texas A&M. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture and powerful Greek system present specific hazing risks.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Pledges were subjected to strenuous activity and had substances including industrial cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.
• Ongoing Concerns: The combination of intense tradition, physical expectations, and hierarchical structures in both the Corps and fraternities creates a high-risk environment for abuse disguised as “building discipline.”

For A&M Families: The university’s internal processes are heavily influenced by tradition and reputation. Pursuing accountability often requires relentless external legal pressure to overcome institutional inertia.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT Austin provides more public transparency than most schools via its online hazing violations log. This very log proves the problem is ongoing and systemic.

Public Violations (Examples from UT’s Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics as punishment. Sanction: Probation and mandatory education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Other Fraternities & Sororities: Multiple organizations appear on the log for forced drinking, sleep deprivation, and verbal abuse.

What This Means for Families: UT’s public record is a double-edged sword. It shows a pattern of conduct, which can help prove a national organization’s “prior knowledge” in a lawsuit. However, the typical sanctions (probation, education) are often seen as mere slaps on the wrist, failing to deter future behavior.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Affluent Campus, Persistent Problems

SMU’s private school status and affluent Greek life scene do not insulate it from hazing.

Documented Issues:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): Chapter suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation of new members.
• As a private institution, SMU has fewer public reporting requirements, which can make uncovering the full history of an organization more difficult without litigation and discovery.

Baylor University – A Culture Under Scrutiny

Baylor’s history with institutional failure to address sexual assault has implications for hazing accountability. The same patterns of prioritizing reputation over student safety can apply.

Documented Incident:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, indicating systemic issues within the team culture.

University of Houston – The Active Litigation Example

The Leonel Bermudez case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is the current flagship example of severe hazing in Texas.

The Case Details:

• Plaintiff: Leonel Bermudez, a UH student.
• Defendants: University of Houston, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.
• Allegations: A campaign of abuse including a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced labor, sleep deprivation, and extreme physical hazing culminating in a November 3, 2025, workout that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• Specific Acts: Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• Result: The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and then voted to surrender its charter. The lawsuit seeks over $10 million in damages.

Why This Matters to Every Texas Family: This is not a historical case. It is active litigation happening now. It demonstrates that the most severe forms of hazing are present on Texas campuses today, and universities and national fraternities can and will be sued for catastrophic injuries.

Fraternities & Sororities: Tracking National Histories to Prove Liability

When we take a case, we don’t just look at the local chapter. We investigate the national organization’s entire history. This “pattern and practice” evidence is crucial for proving that the harm was foreseeable and that the national headquarters failed in its duty to supervise.

How National Histories Create Liability:
A national fraternity that has seen deaths at other chapters from forced drinking games cannot plausibly claim it was “unforeseeable” when the same thing happens at a Texas chapter. Their own risk management policies, written in blood after prior tragedies, prove they knew the dangers.

Organizations with Documented, Dangerous Patterns (A Sample):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz death (Bowling Green, $10M+ settlement). Multiple other alcohol-related deaths and injuries nationwide.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Pledged to eliminate pledging in 2014 after a string of deaths, yet serious incidents continue, including the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death (LSU).
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey death (Florida State); now the active Bermudez case at UH.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Hazing suspensions at multiple campuses, including SMU.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our firm goes beyond simple internet searches. We maintain and utilize a proprietary database built from public records to map the Greek ecosystem in Texas. This includes:

• IRS B83 Filings: Tracking over 125 tax-exempt Greek organizations (house corporations, alumni chapters) registered in Texas with names, EINs, and addresses.
• Metro-Level Analysis: Understanding the concentration of Greek entities in regions like Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (over 510 organizations), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (188), and Austin-Round Rock (154).
• Cross-Referenced Brands: Identifying national brands that appear across multiple data sources, confirming their operational footprint in Texas.

Example Public Record Listing (Dallas-Fort Worth Area):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter, EIN 52-1278573, Dallas, TX 75241 (IRS B83 Filing)

This deep, data-driven understanding allows us to quickly identify all potentially liable entities behind a local chapter—the house corporation that owns the property, the alumni board that advises, and the national headquarters that collects dues. For Westlake families, this means we start an investigation with a map, not a blank page.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach from day one. Here is what we do at Attorney911.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Evidence: The #1 source of proof. We secure and analyze GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and social media (Instagram, Snapchat) threads. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by perpetrators themselves, often shared in group chats as trophies.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” books, emails between officers, and communications with national headquarters.
4. University Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests. These include prior conduct violations, warning letters, and internal investigation reports on the same organization.
5. Medical Records: Documenting the full extent of physical and psychological injury, from ER reports to long-term psychiatric care plans for PTSD.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

The Damages We Fight to Recover:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency, hospital, surgery, therapy), future medical care, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Our Strategic Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and employ delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants, deep-pocketed universities, or national fraternities with unlimited legal budgets.
• 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 effectively advise clients navigating both systems.

Practical Guides for Parents, Students, and Witnesses

A Guide for Westlake Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Physical: Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns, or limping. Extreme fatigue, weight change, or signs of sleep deprivation.
• Behavioral: Sudden secrecy about organization activities. Withdrawing from family and old friends. Personality shifts—anxiety, depression, or anger. Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Academic: Grades plummeting. Missing classes or falling asleep in school.
• Financial: Unexplained charges for alcohol, food, or “fines.”

How to Talk to Your Child:
Use open-ended questions: “How are things going with [the organization]? Is it what you expected?” “Are you ever asked to do things that make you uncomfortable?” Listen without judgment. Affirm that their safety is all that matters.

If You Discover Hazing:

1. Prioritize safety and medical care.
2. Preserve evidence (see 48-Hour Checklist).
3. Report to the university’s Dean of Students and, if a crime occurred, to police.
4. Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before making formal statements or signing anything.

A Guide for Students: Your Rights and Safety

Is This Hazing? Trust Your Gut. If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated, it probably is. “Consent” under peer pressure is not real consent in the eyes of Texas law.

How to Exit Safely:

• Your physical safety comes first. If in danger, call 911.
• To de-pledge, send a simple, written message to the chapter president: “I am resigning my membership, effective immediately.” You do not owe them a meeting or explanation.
• If you fear retaliation, report that fear to campus police and the Dean of Students.

Preserving Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos of injuries. Save any objects. Tell a trusted adult or friend what happened and write it down.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

• Deleting messages or photos.
• Confronting the organization directly (they will lawyer up and destroy evidence).
• Signing a university “resolution” agreement without an attorney.
• Posting about the incident on social media.
• Waiting to see what the university does while evidence disappears.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who combine deep legal expertise with genuine compassion and a relentless drive for accountability. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), we are not just personal injury lawyers; we are complex institutional litigation specialists who understand the unique battlefield of a hazing case.

Our “Why” for Hazing Cases: We see hazing for what it is: a preventable form of institutionalized abuse that preys on young people’s desire for belonging. We take these cases to get justice for our clients and to force the systemic changes that will protect the next generation of students. The Bermudez case against UH is a clear statement of our commitment.

For Families in Westlake and Denton County: While our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Denton County. We are familiar with the courts, universities, and communities in this region. We understand the journey from Westlake to Denton, to College Station, or to Austin, and we are prepared to help you navigate this difficult path, no matter where you are in Texas.

We Offer:

• Free, Confidential Consultations: We listen to your story without judgment and give you honest, straightforward advice about your options.
• Contingency Fee Basis: You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.
• Spanish-Language Services: Hablamos Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides full consultations and representation in Spanish.
• Immediate Response: We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason. When you call, we respond.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Conversation

If hazing has hurt your child and your family, you do not have to face this alone. The organizations involved have lawyers protecting them from day one. You deserve the same advocacy.

Let us help you find the answers, secure the evidence, and build the case for accountability and justice. Whether the incident happened at UNT, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor, UH, or any other campus, we have the knowledge and resources to help.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

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

We serve Westlake, Southlake, Denton County, and all of Texas.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law is complex and changes. Every case is unique. If you have a legal concern regarding hazing, please contact an attorney directly for advice pertaining to your specific situation.

© The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911). All rights reserved.