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Serving Pearland Families: The Definitive Texas Hazing Incident & Legal Guide

A Texas Parent’s Worst Nightmare: Hazing in Our Backyard

Picture this: your son, a promising student who grew up right here in Pearland, decides to join a fraternity at a Texas university. What starts as exciting social opportunities quickly turns to mandatory late-night meetings, constant demands via group chat at all hours, and “tradition” events that leave him exhausted and secretive. Then comes the call—or worse, the drive to a Houston-area hospital—where you learn he has been subjected to extreme physical abuse, forced to consume dangerous amounts of food and alcohol, and is now suffering from acute kidney failure. His urine is brown. This is not a hypothetical scenario. This is the reality faced by the family of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student whose severe hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter led to a life-threatening medical crisis and a $10 million lawsuit our firm is actively litigating right now.

If you are a parent in Pearland, Sugar Land, Friendswood, or anywhere across Brazoria and Harris Counties, this guide is for you. Hazing is not just a “college prank” or something that happens elsewhere. It is happening at campuses throughout Texas where our children study, including the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor. This comprehensive resource explains what hazing truly looks like in 2025, your family’s legal rights under Texas law, and the patterns of institutional failure we see repeated across our state. We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), and we represent hazing victims and their families. Our mission is to provide the information you need to protect your child and hold powerful organizations accountable.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger or has been seriously injured in connection with fraternity, sorority, Corps, or athletic activities:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the First 48 Hours:
  1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma require professional evaluation.
  2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media posts. Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items involved.
  3. Document Everything: Write down what happened, including dates, times, locations, and names of everyone involved, while memories are fresh.
  4. Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, post details on social media, or let your child delete any digital evidence.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “hell week” of decades past. For Pearland families, understanding this evolution is critical to recognizing the signs that your child may be in a dangerous situation. Modern hazing is a calculated system of coercion that leverages technology, psychological pressure, and sophisticated secrecy.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Digital Control
This foundational layer establishes power imbalances and sets the stage for escalation. It includes:

• 24/7 Digital Servitude: Pledges required to respond instantly to group chat messages at all hours. Failure results in punishment.
• Mandatory Chauffeur Duty: Being “on call” to drive active members anywhere, anytime, often overnight.
• Social Media Policing: Controlling what pledges post, requiring them to share organizational content.
• Humiliating “Requirements”: Like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, which contained condoms, sex toys, and other degrading items to be carried at all times.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
These acts cause clear emotional or physical discomfort and create an abusive environment.

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night “meetings” or 3 AM wake-up calls for tasks or workouts.
• Forced, Extreme Physical Exercise: “Smokings” involving hundreds of push-ups or squats under threat of expulsion, as alleged in the UH case.
• Food/Water Manipulation: Forced consumption of unpalatable substances (like milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting) or restriction of nutrition.
• Public Humiliation: Being forced to wear degrading costumes, perform embarrassing acts, or endure verbal “roasts.”

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
These are the acts that lead to hospitalization, permanent injury, and death.

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, or lineup challenges where pledges must finish bottles of liquor.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “gladiator” fights, or being tackled during rituals (like the fatal “glass ceiling” ritual in the Pi Delta Psi case at Baruch College).
• Dangerous Environmental Exposure: Being left outside in cold weather in underwear, sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” or subjected to chemical exposure.
• Restraint & Torture: As alleged in the UH case, where another pledge was reportedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond Fraternity Row

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades many campus organizations that Pearland students join:

• Corps of Cadets & ROTC Programs (particularly at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like the Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Academic or Service Clubs

The common thread is a dynamic where established members wield power over new members under the guise of “tradition,” “team building,” or “earning your place.”

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties & Civil Liability

Texas has clear laws against hazing, and understanding them is the first step toward accountability. For families in Pearland, navigating this legal landscape often involves multiple jurisdictions—campus police, the Pearland or Houston police, Brazoria or Harris County courts, and federal law.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The cornerstone is Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. It defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in any organization that:

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

Key Provisions for Pearland Families:

• Location Doesn’t Matter: The law applies to acts on or off campus, at houses, apartments, retreats, or anywhere else.
• “Consent is Not a Defense” (Sec. 37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for the perpetrators. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure.
• Criminal Penalties Escalate with Harm (Sec. 37.152):
  • 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.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporters (Sec. 37.154): Those who report hazing to authorities in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability related to the report. This is crucial to encourage bystanders to call for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). The goal is punishment—fines, probation, or jail time for individuals. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, and in fatal cases, manslaughter.

Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. Our firm handles civil litigation. A civil case does not require a criminal conviction to proceed. We sue for:

• Negligence & Gross Negligence (failure to exercise reasonable care).
• Negligent Supervision, Hiring, or Retention (against nationals/universities).
• Premises Liability (dangerous conditions at chapter houses).
• Wrongful Death (in fatal cases).
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, the university has specific federal obligations to investigate and respond.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. This will increase public data by 2026.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Hazing Lawsuit?

One of our core strengths is identifying every potentially liable entity to ensure full accountability and access to insurance coverage. The defendant “universe” in a case like the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit typically includes:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or actively concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter/Organization: The chapter itself as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite known patterns of hazing.
4. Chapter Housing Corporations: Separate legal entities that own or manage fraternity houses, like the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc.” (EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX).
5. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability.
6. University Board of Regents: Such as the UH System Board of Regents, named in the Bermudez suit.
7. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated incidents. They are patterns—predictable scripts that repeat because organizations fail to fundamentally change their culture. These patterns provide crucial “foreseeability” in court, proving that the risks were known and ignored.

Pattern 1: The Fatal Alcohol Hazing Script

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night; died of alcohol poisoning. $10M+ in settlements.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge died during “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing).
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning at “Big Brother” event.
• Texas Connection: The forced consumption of milk and alcohol in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case follows this same deadly pattern.

Pattern 2: Physical Torture & Brutality

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.
• Texas Connection: The extreme workouts, hog-tying, and simulated waterboarding in the UH case exemplify this pattern of physical torture.

Pattern 3: Institutional Cover-Ups & Delayed Help

• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Pledge died after falls during a bid night; brothers delayed calling 911 for hours, captured on house security cameras. Led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Common Thread: In nearly every fatal case, members hesitated to call for help due to fear of getting the chapter in trouble, directly worsening the outcome. Texas law’s good-faith reporter immunity is designed to combat this.

Texas University Focus: Where Pearland Families Send Their Kids

Pearland is uniquely positioned in the Greater Houston educational ecosystem. Our children attend flagship universities across the state. Here is what you need to know about hazing at the major institutions where Pearland students are enrolled.

University of Houston (UH) – A Local Case Study in Crisis

For Pearland Families: UH is a major destination, just a short drive from home. The 2025 Pi Kappa Phi case shows severe hazing can and does happen here.

• Official Policy: UH prohibits hazing on and off campus and provides reporting channels through the Dean of Students and UHPD.
• The Bermudez Case – A 2025 Blueprint: This active lawsuit alleges a system of abuse at the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, including:
  • The degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule.
  • Forced, extreme workouts at the chapter house and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
  • Simulated waterboarding via hose spraying.
  • Forced overconsumption leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization.
  • University and national response: The chapter was suspended Nov. 6, 2025, and voted to surrender its charter on Nov. 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• Prior History: UH has suspended other chapters for hazing, including a 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case involving a lacerated spleen.
• Legal Jurisdiction: Cases may involve UHPD, Houston Police, and courts in Harris County, where our main office is located.

Texas A&M University

For Pearland Families: Many Aggies come from the Greater Houston area. Hazing risks exist both in Greek life and the storied Corps of Cadets.

• Corps of Cadets Litigation: A 2023 lawsuit alleged cadets were subjected to simulated sexual acts and bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million.
• Fraternity Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): A 2021 lawsuit alleged pledges were doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
  • Kappa Sigma: Ongoing litigation involves allegations of physical hazing resulting in rhabdomyolysis.
• University Process: A&M handles cases through Student Conduct and Corps regulations. Their size and tradition can make internal accountability complex.

University of Texas at Austin

For Pearland Families: UT’s prestigious programs draw students statewide. It also has one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation databases.

• Public Hazing Log: UT maintains a public online list of organizations found responsible for hazing.
  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
  • Other Groups: Various spirit groups and fraternities have been disciplined for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and humiliation.
• SAE Assault Lawsuit (2024): An Australian exchange student sued the UT SAE chapter for over $1 million after allegedly being assaulted at a party, suffering a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractures.
• Legal Venue: Cases typically fall under UTPD or Austin Police and Travis County courts.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

For Pearland Families: These private, faith-associated universities are common choices for local students. Their private status affects transparency.

• SMU – Kappa Alpha Order: The chapter was suspended in 2017 after reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor – Baseball Team Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, highlighting that abuse extends beyond Greek life.
• Private School Dynamics: These institutions often emphasize internal resolution. Legal action may be necessary to uncover the full truth through the discovery process.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Histories & Local Chapters

The fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses are chapters of national organizations with documented, recurring hazing problems. This national history is not just background—it is critical evidence in court that the risks were foreseeable.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Tracking Organizational Footprints

Our firm maintains a proprietary database built from public records—IRS filings, university data, and metro directories—to map the Greek organizational landscape in Texas. This allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable entities behind a chapter. For example, our data includes:

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Entities (From Public IRS B83 Filings):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. (EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN 364091267, Waco, TX)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M Chapter (EIN 900293166, College Station, TX)

The Houston Metro Greek Landscape (From Cause IQ Data):
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area has 188 Greek-related organizations, including national alumni chapters, housing corporations, and undergraduate chapters. This dense network means national oversight and insurance coverage are often traceable locally.

Why National Histories Matter in Your Texas Case

When we represent a family, we investigate the national organization’s past. For example:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of fatal “Big/Little” alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple deaths and severe injury cases nationwide, including at Texas A&M and UT.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The national organization named in the fatal Andrew Coffey case at FSU and our active UH case.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): National pattern exemplified by the Max Gruver death at LSU.

If a national organization knows—from tragedies at other chapters—that a specific ritual (like forced drinking games) kills people, but fails to eradicate it, that “notice” strengthens claims of negligence and gross negligence against them in a Texas lawsuit.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages & Our Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case against a university and a national fraternity is complex litigation. It requires an investigative depth and legal strategy that most personal injury firms cannot muster. Here is how we approach it for Pearland families.

Critical Evidence We Pursue

1. Digital Forensics: The #1 source of evidence. We work with experts to recover deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, and text messages that show planning, execution, and cover-ups.
2. Social Media & Photos: Videos and photos from events, often shared within private groups or stories.
3. Internal Chapter & National Records: Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents, meeting minutes, and national risk-management files obtained through subpoenas.
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports on the same chapter, Clery Act reports, and internal emails uncovered via discovery.
5. Medical Records: Documentation of injuries, including ER reports, lab tests (like elevated creatine kinase for rhabdomyolysis), and psychological evaluations for PTSD.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Recoverable Damages for Victims & Families

• Economic Damages: All medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, diminished future earning capacity (for permanent injuries), and educational costs (lost tuition, delayed graduation).
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression).
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious recklessness or intentional misconduct, to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantages in Hazing Litigation

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers fight claims, minimize payouts, and use delay tactics. We anticipate and counter their strategies from day one.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants, deep-pocketed insurers, or university legal teams.
3. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil suits. We can advise clients on both fronts.
4. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Pearland and Greater Houston.
5. “No Fee Unless We Win” Policy: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. You pay no upfront fees; we only get paid if we secure a recovery for you.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Pearland Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities; being “on call” 24/7 via phone.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal from family and old friends.
• Grades plummeting or skipping classes for “mandatory” events.
• Unexplained expenses for alcohol, costumes, or “fines.”

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Seek medical attention immediately for any injury or intoxication.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot all digital communications. Photograph injuries. Do not let them delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything they tell you with dates, times, and names.
4. Consult a Lawyer Before Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can advise on how to report to campus or local police while protecting your child’s rights and preserving evidence.
5. Do Not: Confront the organization, sign university settlement offers, or post on social media.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

If you are being pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or secretive to belong, it is likely hazing. Remember:

• You have the right to leave any situation that feels unsafe.
• “Consent” is not a defense for your abusers under Texas law.
• Call 911 in any medical emergency. Texas law and most university policies offer amnesty for those who seek help in good faith.
• Save everything. Do not delete texts, group chats, or photos, no matter how embarrassing.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the chapter directly, giving them time to destroy evidence and coach witnesses.
• Signing a university’s “internal resolution” agreement without having an attorney review it, as it may waive your right to sue.
• Posting details on public social media, which defense attorneys will scour for inconsistencies.
• Waiting too long. Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitations run out.

Frequently Asked Questions

“My child ‘agreed’ to participate. Do we have a case?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.

“Can we sue the university?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities have certain immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and more. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers. Each case is fact-specific.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years from the date of injury or death. However, exceptions exist (like the “discovery rule”). Time is of the essence—evidence preservation is critical.

“Will this be public? I don’t want my child’s name in the news.”
Most civil cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy and can negotiate for sealed records and confidential settlement terms.

Why Attorney911 for Pearland Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the profound personal impact and possess the technical skill to take on powerful institutions. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve Pearland families and hazing victims across Texas.

We are currently leading the litigation in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case—a $10 million lawsuit alleging some of the most severe hazing abuses seen in Texas. We are in the fight right now. This gives us unparalleled, current insight into how national fraternities and universities defend these cases in Texas courts.

Our unique combination of insurance insider knowledge, complex litigation experience, and deep investigative resources allows us to build the strongest possible case for your family. We track the organizational landscape through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine so we can immediately identify every entity that shares responsibility.

If Hazing Has Impacted Your Family, You Are Not Alone

The journey toward accountability and healing begins with a confidential conversation. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation. In this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the investigation process and what to expect.
• Answer your questions about timelines, costs, and strategies.
• There is no pressure to proceed. Our goal is to empower you with information.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today

Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™ 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides full consultations in Spanish.

We serve families in Pearland, across Brazoria and Harris Counties, and throughout Texas.