Trinity County’s Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits: Protecting Your Child at Texas Universities

If Your Child is Hurting Right Now—You Are Not Alone

It’s the phone call every Trinity County parent dreads. Your child, away at college at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or UT Austin, was supposed to be gaining independence and building a future. Instead, their voice sounds distant and fearful over the line. They mention “mandatory pledge events,” coming home with unexplained bruises, or being exhausted from all-night “study sessions” that feel more like punishment. They might even hint at being pressured to drink things they don’t want to or endure humiliating acts to “prove their loyalty.” Your stomach drops. This isn’t the college experience you envisioned for them.

Right now, just a few hours from Trinity County in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi pledge who suffered catastrophic injuries—rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—after enduring months of systematic abuse. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. The fraternity chapter has been shut down, and we have filed a $10 million lawsuit against the university, the national fraternity, and individual members. This is happening right here in Texas, to a family just like yours.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Trinity County, Texas. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down your legal rights under Texas law, and show you the proven path to accountability and recovery. Whether your child attends a school near Trinity County or at a major hub like UT Austin, the same dangerous patterns exist. You have the power to protect them.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency:

• If your child is in immediate danger: Call 911.
• Then call us, day or night: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
• In the first 48 hours: Preserve evidence. Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts). Photograph injuries. Save all clothing and items. Write down everything your child tells you. Do not delete anything.
• Do not: Confront the fraternity/sorority directly. Sign anything from the university. Post details on social media. Let your child “clean up” their phone.

Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Party Pranks”

For families in Trinity County, the idea of hazing might seem like a relic of outdated college movies. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, sophisticated, and dangerous. Hazing is any intentional or reckless act by a group member that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership. Crucially, under Texas law, your child’s “consent” is not a defense.

Modern hazing at Texas universities typically falls into three escalating categories:

1. Subtle Hazing (The Gateway):
This is designed to establish power imbalances and test compliance. It includes:

• Being “on call” 24/7 for older members’ errands or driving duties.
• Mandatory, humiliating “dress codes” or carrying specific items (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, which contained condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices).
• Social isolation from friends and family outside the group.
• Being given a derogatory nickname or identity.

2. Harassment Hazing (Systematic Abuse):
This causes clear emotional and physical distress.

• Sleep deprivation from mandatory late-night or early-morning “meetings” and workouts (like the 5:30 AM sessions at Yellowstone Boulevard Park in the UH case).
• Forced consumption of unpleasant substances (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns) until vomiting, followed by immediate physical punishment.
• Verbal abuse and degradation during weekly interviews or “grilling” sessions.
• Digital control, including mandatory instant responses in group chats and location tracking via apps.

3. Violent Hazing (Life-Threatening Conduct):
This has the highest potential for catastrophic injury or death.

• Forced alcohol consumption through games like “Bible Study” or during “Big/Little” reveals.
• Extreme physical hazing: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups and squats, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills.
• Simulated torture: Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” threats of actual waterboarding, or being hog-tied face-down on a table.
• Exposure elements: Exercising in cold weather in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass.

The hazing that led to Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure included all three categories: the demeaning fanny pack rule, sleep-deprived chauffeur duties, forced overeating, and the violent November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that directly caused his medical crisis. This is the modern reality.

Texas Law & Your Family’s Rights: A Trinity County Parent’s Guide

Texas has some of the nation’s most clearly defined hazing laws, designed to protect students like yours. Understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

The Texas Education Code (Chapter 37, Subchapter F) is the cornerstone. It defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with an organization.

Key Provisions for Trinity County Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury (like rhabdomyolysis or a traumatic brain injury), it becomes a state jail felony. If someone dies, it’s a state jail felony.
• Organizations Can Be Charged: The fraternity or sorority itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) states unequivocally that the victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense. This destroys the most common excuse we hear.
• Immunity for Reporting: Individuals who in good faith report hazing to authorities or seek medical help are immune from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement (like underage drinking). This is critical—call for help without fear.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Recovery
A criminal case, pursued by the state, aims to punish. A civil lawsuit, which our firm files on behalf of families, aims to:

1. Compensate your family for all damages—medical bills, future care, pain and suffering.
2. Hold every responsible party accountable—from the individual who poured the drink to the national headquarters that looked the other way.
3. Force institutional change to protect future students.

Who Can Be Sued in a Texas Hazing Case?

1. The Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an organization (often a housing corporation).
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision and failure to stop known patterns.
4. The University (like UH or Texas A&M) for negligent oversight, especially if they had prior knowledge.
5. Property Owners & Third Parties (like the owner of an off-campus house used for hazing).

Federal Laws That Apply on Every Campus:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal funds to publish transparent hazing reports and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based violence, this federal law imposes strict duties on schools to investigate and address it.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain campus crimes, which can include assault and hazing-related offenses.

For a Trinity County family, this means you have a powerful combination of state and federal laws to work with. The university’s location doesn’t limit your ability to seek justice.

The National Playbook: How We Use Past Tragedies to Win Your Case

The fraternity that harmed your child in Texas is part of a national organization with a known history. We use this history to prove these tragedies are foreseeable and preventable. Here are the patterns we see repeated:

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died. $10 million settlement.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game; died. Led to Louisiana’ Max Gruver Act.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): “Big Brother” night with handles of liquor; died.

The Physical Torture Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Blindfolded, weighted down, and tackled in a “glass ceiling” ritual; died from brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Forced excessive drinking; suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage. Settlements with 22 defendants.

The Athletic & Corps Hazing Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-25): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits and the head coach’s firing.
• Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Allegations of being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth, among other degrading acts.

Why This History Matters for Your Trinity County Case:
When we sue Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters for what happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH, we can point to Andrew Coffey’s death at Florida State in 2017. We prove they knew forced consumption and extreme workouts were killing pledges but failed to implement real safeguards. This pattern evidence is what transforms a “local chapter problem” into a national institutional failure, dramatically increasing accountability and the value of your case.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Trinity County Students Are at Risk

Families in Trinity County send their students to universities across our great state. The risks exist on every campus, but the specific organizations and traditions vary. Here is what you need to know about the major Texas hubs.

University of Houston: A Case Study in Catastrophic Failure

Our ongoing $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi reveals a systemic breakdown. For Trinity County families with students at UH, this is a critical case study.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez:

• Hazing Locations: Pi Kappa Phi chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• The Abuse: The “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, overnight chauffeuring, forced consumption of milk/hot dogs/peppercorns, hose spraying “like waterboarding,” and the deadly Nov. 3 workout.
• The Injury: Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, signaled by brown urine. Four-day hospitalization with critically high creatine kinase levels.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on Nov. 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

UH’s Greek Ecosystem Includes:

• Interfraternity Council (IFC): Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and others.
• Panhellenic Sororities
• National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): The Divine Nine historically Black organizations.
• Multicultural Greek Council

What UH Families Should Do:

1. Report to the UH Dean of Students Office and UH Police Department.
2. Preserve evidence from GroupMe chats—this is where hazing is often planned and documented.
3. Understand that UH, as a public institution, may argue “sovereign immunity,” but exceptions for gross negligence exist. Our active litigation is testing these boundaries right now.

Texas A&M University: Tradition, Corps Culture, and Severe Abuse

For Trinity County students drawn to Aggieland, the risks extend beyond fraternities into the revered Corps of Cadets.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose. Sought over $1 million in damages.
• Corps “March-In” & Culture: High-pressure traditions can cross into abusive territory.

Texas A&M’s Vast Greek Community Includes:

• One of the largest IFC and Panhellenic systems in the country.
• Major Fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma.
• Major Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma.

What Texas A&M Families Should Know:

• The university has its own disciplinary process for both Greek life and the Corps.
• Civil lawsuits often must navigate College Station/Brazos County courts.
• Evidence from Corps “quad” life or off-campus fraternity houses is crucial.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT Austin publishes a public hazing violations log—a resource that also reveals troubling patterns.

Public Violations (Examples from UT’s Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume excessive milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Faced a lawsuit in 2024 from an Australian exchange student who alleged assault resulting in a broken nose, fractured tibia, and dislocated leg at a party.

UT’s Greek System is Massive, with chapters of every major national fraternity and sorority present.

Action Steps for UT Families:

1. Check the UT Hazing Violations Log to see if your child’s organization has a prior record.
2. Reports can be made to the UT Dean of Students and UTPD.
3. The public nature of UT’s data can strengthen a civil case by proving “prior notice.”

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

While smaller, these private institutions have not been immune.

At SMU (Dallas):

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): Chapter suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• As a private university, SMU has less “sovereign immunity” protection but may guard internal records more closely.

At Baylor (Waco):

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following a hazing investigation.
• The university’s history with institutional failure (the football sexual assault scandal) informs how it handles—or mishandles—hazing complaints.

The Common Thread for Trinity County Parents:
No matter the campus, the playbook is similar: secrecy, coercion, tradition used as a weapon, and institutional reluctance to act decisively until forced by a lawsuit.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Texas-Wide Network

When harm occurs at a Texas chapter, liability often extends far beyond the students in the room. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks the complex web of legal entities that support Greek life across the state. This investigative directory is part of how we build an unbeatable case for families.

The Greek Organizational Web:

1. The Undergraduate Chapter (e.g., “Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Chapter at UH”).
2. The Housing Corporation (a separate legal entity that owns the house, like the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc.” EIN 46-2267515 in Frisco, TX).
3. The Alumni Corporation/Chapter (provides funding and oversight).
4. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters (sets policy, collects dues, insures chapters).
5. The University (provides recognition, space, and implicit endorsement).

Texas-Specific Entity Snapshots from Public Records:
To show the scale and structure, here are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations from IRS and public filings. This is the type of data we use to identify every potentially liable party:

In the Greater Houston Metro (188+ Greek Entities):

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Houston Alumnae Chapter (Houston, TX)
• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Houston, TX – alumni/house corp.)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter (Houston, TX – undergrad chapter)

Statewide Educational/Honor Societies (IRS B83 Filings):

• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter (EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – University of Texas at El Paso Chapter (EIN 38-3742830, El Paso, TX 79968)

Fraternity Housing & Alumni Corporations:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc. (EIN 27-3662583, Lufkin, TX 75904)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation (EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204)

For a Trinity County family, this means the organization responsible for your child’s injury might be headquartered in Frisco, funded by an alumni group in Missouri City, and insured by a policy written for a national office in Charlotte. We know how to trace this entire chain.

National Patterns at Texas Chapters:
The same organizations with deadly histories elsewhere have chapters at your child’s Texas school:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz’s death at BGSU. Chapters at UH, UT, Texas A&M, SMU, Baylor.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths nationwide; chemical burns at Texas A&M; assault lawsuit at UT.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver’s death at LSU. Chapters at UH, Texas A&M.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey’s death at FSU; Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure at UH.

This national pattern is what allows us to prove to a jury that the harm was foreseeable and preventable.

Building a Winning Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

If your family is facing this crisis, you need to know what the fight looks like. We approach every hazing case with a methodical, evidence-driven strategy honed from years of complex litigation against institutions like BP.

Phase 1: The 48-Hour Evidence Lockdown

The single most important phase. Digital evidence disappears in hours.

1. Group Chats: Full screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage threads with timestamps and sender names visible.
2. Social Media: Archive Instagram stories, Snapchats, TikTok videos, Facebook posts/events.
3. Photos/Videos: Of injuries, locations, parties, paddles, alcohol setups.
4. Medical Records: Get every page from the ER, hospital, and follow-ups. Ensure the treating physician documents the cause as “hazing.”
5. Witness List: Names and contact info for every other pledge, member, roommate, or RA.

Phase 2: The Investigative Unraveling

We deploy a team to uncover what the organization wants to hide.

• Digital Forensics Experts: To recover deleted messages and metadata.
• Private Investigators: To interview witnesses before they are coached by defense lawyers.
• Subpoenas: To the national fraternity for prior incident reports, risk management files, and internal emails about the chapter.
• Public Records Requests: To the university for all prior conduct violations involving the same group.

Phase 3: Constructing the Liability Web

We don’t just sue the obvious parties. We build a case against the entire system that allowed the harm.

1. Individual Members: The pledge master, president, risk manager—all 13 named individuals in the UH case.
2. The Local Chapter & Housing Corp: Using EINs and addresses from public records.
3. The National Headquarters: For negligent supervision and failure to act on known patterns.
4. The University: For negligent oversight and creating an unsafe environment.
5. Property Owners & Alcohol Providers: If applicable.

Phase 4: Demonstrating Damages

We quantify every aspect of harm to ensure full and fair compensation.

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency, hospitalization, surgery, therapy). Future medical care costs (lifelong kidney monitoring, psychological treatment). Lost educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional trauma (PTSD, depression, anxiety), humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Catastrophic Injury/Life Care Planning: For cases like rhabdomyolysis with permanent kidney damage, we work with nephrologists and life care planners to project millions in future needs.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If the unthinkable happens, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s profound grief.

Phase 5: The Insurance Battle

Fraternities and universities have layers of insurance. These companies immediately look for ways to deny coverage. Our insider advantage is critical:

• Mr. Lupe Peña, as a former insurance defense attorney, knows exactly how these insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to downplay injuries, and employ delay tactics.
• We identify every potential policy (chapter, national, university umbrella, homeowner’s policies of individual members) and fight bad-faith denials.

A Practical Guide for Trinity County Parents & Students

For Parents: The Warning Signs & Action Plan

Red Flags Your Child is Being Hazed:

• Physical: Unexplained bruises, burns, limping. Extreme fatigue, weight changes. Signs of alcohol poisoning (vomiting, confusion).
• Behavioral: New secrecy, withdrawal from family/friends. Anxiety, depression, irritability. Constant phone checking (for group chat demands). Fear of “getting the chapter in trouble.”
• Academic: Grades plummeting. Missing classes or falling asleep in them.
• Financial: Sudden, unexplained expenses for “fines,” alcohol, or gifts for older members.

Your Step-by-Step Action Plan:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured, go to the ER. Say, “This was from hazing.”
2. Preserve Evidence NOW: Help your child screenshot everything. Photograph injuries. Save dirty clothing. Create a written timeline.
3. Contact an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: We can guide you on how to report to maximize evidence preservation and minimize retaliation.
4. Document University Communications: Save all emails and notes from calls with deans or conduct officers.
5. Secure Emotional Support: Find a therapist experienced in trauma for your child (and perhaps for you).

For Students: Your Rights & How to Exit Safely

You Have the Right:

• To be free from physical and psychological abuse.
• To leave a dangerous situation at any time.
• To call 911 for medical help without fear of minor-in-possession charges (Texas has good-faith reporter protections).
• To sue the people who hurt you, even if you initially “agreed” to participate.

How to Exit a Dangerous Pledge Process:

1. Tell Someone Outside First: A parent, a trusted friend, an RA. Create a record.
2. Send a Clear, Written Resignation: “I resign my pledge membership effective immediately.” Email or text the chapter president.
3. Do NOT Attend “One Last Meeting”: This is where pressure and intimidation happen.
4. If You Fear Retaliation: Report that fear immediately to campus police and the Dean of Students. You may be eligible for a no-contact order.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Case

1. Deleting Messages or Photos: This looks like a cover-up. Preserve, don’t delete.
2. Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Papers: These often waive your right to sue for a paltry sum.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys will mine your posts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, memories fade. The Texas statute of limitations is generally two years.

Why Families in Trinity County and Across Texas Choose Attorney911

When your family is in a legal emergency caused by hazing, you need more than a lawyer. You need advocates who understand the institutional battlefield, the psychology of coercion, and the medical complexity of injuries like rhabdomyolysis. You need a team that has faced billion-dollar defendants and isn’t intimidated by a university’s prestige or a national fraternity’s deep pockets.

Our Proven Advantage for Hazing Cases:

1. Insider Knowledge of the Defense Playbook.
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies will try to deny your claim, undervalue your child’s trauma, and drag out the process to pressure you. We know their tactics because we used to be on their side.

2. Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death Experience.
We have recovered millions for clients with life-altering injuries—brain damage, amputations, severe burns. We understand how to work with medical specialists, life care planners, and economists to project the true lifetime cost of an injury like kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis. Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proved we can manage the most complex cases against the most powerful opponents.

3. A Data-Driven Investigation from Day One.
We don’t start from scratch. We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary directory of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas, their EINs, addresses, and corporate structures. We know how to trace liability from the individual member in a College Station chapter house to the national housing corporation in an office park in Frisco.

4. Criminal & Civil Dual Capability.
Founding attorney Ralph Manginello is a member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We understand the criminal hazing charges that may be filed and how they interact with your civil lawsuit. We can advise witnesses or former members who may have exposure, ensuring their cooperation strengthens your case.

5. A Commitment to Your Family’s Well-Being.
We take on a limited number of hazing cases so we can give each family the attention it deserves. We communicate regularly, we fight relentlessly, and we never lose sight of the human tragedy at the center of the legal battle. Our goal is not just compensation, but accountability and change to protect the next student from Trinity County.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Conversation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university, the time to act is now. Evidence is fleeting. Institutions are quick to circle the wagons.

We offer free, confidential consultations to Trinity County families and students across Texas. In this conversation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options in plain English.
• Outline the investigative process and realistic timelines.
• Discuss our contingency fee structure—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

We serve families statewide from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Distance is no barrier. We handle cases where the harm occurred in College Station, Austin, Houston, San Marcos, or Waco.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• 24/7 Helpline: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Se Habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

You do not have to navigate this nightmare alone. Let us use our experience, our data, and our determination to fight for your child’s future and hold every responsible party accountable. Call us now.

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

© The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911). Serving Trinity County and all of Texas.