Hazed in Texas: The Ultimate Guide for Snook, Burleson County Families Seeking Justice & Accountability
1. Hook + Overview: A Snook Family’s Worst Fear
Your child left for college with dreams of friendship, achievement, and a bright future. Now, the late-night phone calls are filled with exhaustion, coded language, and a strange new anxiety. They’re coming home with unexplained bruises or a hollow look in their eyes. They flinch when their phone buzzes with another group chat notification. As a parent in Snook, in the heart of Burleson County, your instincts scream that something is wrong. That instinct is often the first sign that your child is caught in the dangerous grip of hazing.
This isn’t about harmless pranks or “boys will be boys” traditions. This is about systematic abuse that happens in dorm rooms, fraternity houses, athletic facilities, and off-campus rentals across Texas. Right now, less than two hours from Snook in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries during his fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter.
According to a detailed Click2Houston investigation and ABC13 coverage, Bermudez was subjected to months of degrading humiliation and violent physical hazing. He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” filled with condoms and sex toys, endure sleep deprivation, and chauffer members at all hours. The abuse escalated to extreme physical torture: being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, and undergoing punishing workouts. The culmination was a November 3rd “workout” where he was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Shortly after, he collapsed. His urine was brown. He was hospitalized for four days with a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, facing the risk of permanent kidney damage.
This $10 million lawsuit names the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. It is living proof of the brutal reality of modern hazing—a reality that isn’t confined to Houston. It exists in College Station, Austin, Waco, and on every campus where Snook, Caldwell, and Somerville families send their children.
This guide is for you. It is a comprehensive resource for parents and students in Snook and across Burleson County to understand what hazing truly looks like in 2025, know your rights under Texas law, and learn how to fight back against the institutions that allow it to happen.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES
If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:
- Call 911 for medical emergencies.
- Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
In the first 48 hours:
- Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
- Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
- Screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts, WhatsApp) immediately.
- Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
- Save physical items (soiled clothing, paddles, receipts).
- Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
- Do NOT:
- Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
- Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
- Post details on public social media.
- Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.
2. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Snook & Beyond
For families in Snook, where community trust runs deep, the calculated cruelty of hazing can be hard to fathom. It has evolved far beyond the stereotypes. Today’s hazing is a blend of psychological control, digital surveillance, and physical abuse, often disguised as “team building” or “tradition.”
The Modern Definition of Hazing
Under Texas law and in practice, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed at a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any organization. If the act endangers mental or physical health or safety, it’s hazing. Critically, a victim’s “consent” is not a legal defense.
Main Categories of Hazing for Texas Students
- Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced or coerced drinking games (“lineups,” “Century Club,” “Big/Little” reveals), pressure to consume dangerous amounts or unknown substances.
- Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme elements (like the cold-weather workouts in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
- Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, forced confessions, wearing degrading costumes or signs, public shaming.
- Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault, demeaning rituals with sexual overtones.
- Digital Hazing: 24/7 demands via GroupMe, forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges,” location tracking, and evidence destruction via disappearing messages.
Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just Fraternities
While Greek life is a frequent setting, hazing permeates many groups:
- Fraternities & Sororities (Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural).
- Athletic Teams (varsity, club, and spirit groups).
- Corps of Cadets & ROTC Units (at schools like Texas A&M).
- Marching Bands, Performance Troupes, and Spirit Organizations.
- Academic Clubs, Honors Societies, and Service Organizations.
The common thread is a power imbalance between new and old members, exploited under the guise of tradition, loyalty, and belonging.
3. Texas Law & Liability Framework: What Snook Families Must Know
When hazing impacts your family, understanding the legal landscape is your first step toward accountability. Texas has specific statutes, and federal laws add another layer of protection and obligation.
Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)
- Definition: Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation.
- Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
- Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
- Key Protections: Consent is NOT a defense (Texas Education Code § 37.155). Those who report hazing in good faith or seek medical help in an emergency have immunity from prosecution related to that report.
Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges
- Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (e.g., Burleson County DA, Brazos County DA) to punish wrongdoing with jail time and fines. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case is currently a civil lawsuit, but criminal referrals have been made.
- Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims and families to obtain compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, wrongful death) and force institutional change. This is where our firm, utilizing deep investigation, holds every responsible party accountable.
Federal Law Overlay
- Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, schools must investigate and address it under federal Title IX regulations.
- The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.
- Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs—a direct response to cases like those of Stone Foltz and Max Gruver.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Our investigation in the Bermudez case targets a full “defendant universe,” a strategy we apply to every case:
- Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned and carried out the acts.
- The Local Chapter: As an entity controlling the activities.
- The National Organization: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns (Pi Kappa Phi nationals are sued in the UH case).
- The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference, or owning/controlling the property where hazing occurred (UH is a defendant).
- Alumni Housing Corporations & Building Associations: These often-wealthy entities own the houses and have insurance (the Beta Nu housing corporation is named).
- Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers, or security companies.
4. National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats in Texas
The horrific details of the UH case are not an anomaly. They follow a national script that has led to dozens of deaths and life-altering injuries. These cases create the legal precedents and patterns we use to build claims for Texas families.
- Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Big/Little” event. $10+ million in settlements from the university and national fraternity.
- Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died after 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 a bid acceptance night. Led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
- Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking. Settlements with 22 defendants.
What This Means for Snook Families: These cases prove that national fraternities have known, for years, that specific rituals are deadly. When the same patterns—forced drinking, violent workouts, humiliation—surface at a Texas chapter, it demonstrates foreseeability, a key element in proving negligence against the national organization and the university that hosts them.
5. Texas Focus: Where Snook Families Send Their Kids
Parents in Snook and Burleson County often see their children attend schools within a short drive or across the state. Understanding the specific landscape of these campuses is critical.
5.1 Texas A&M University (The Local & Regional Anchor)
For many in Snook, Texas A&M University in Bryan-College Station is the most prominent local university. Its culture, including a massive Greek system and the famed Corps of Cadets, carries specific hazing risks.
- Documented Incidents: Lawsuits have alleged severe hazing within the Corps of Cadets, including binding and humiliation. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter faced a lawsuit where pledges alleged being doused with industrial cleaner, causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
- Legal Jurisdiction: Hazing incidents at A&M may involve the Texas A&M University Police Department, the Bryan or College Station PD, and could be litigated in Brazos County courts.
- Action for Snook Families: Proximity means you can act quickly. If you suspect hazing involving an A&M student, evidence preservation and immediate consultation with a lawyer who understands both A&M’s internal systems and Brazos County law is essential.
5.2 The University of Houston (Our Flagship Active Case)
As detailed, our active litigation against UH and Pi Kappa Phi defines the frontline of hazing accountability in Texas. This case shows that even major urban universities with anti-hazing policies can harbor deeply abusive chapters. For Snook families with students at UH, this case is a direct reference point for what is possible through determined legal action.
5.3 University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin maintains one of the more transparent hazing disclosure logs in the state, publicly listing sanctioned organizations.
- Public Record: Their database shows sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced milk consumption and calisthenics, and Texas Wranglers for alcohol-related hazing.
- Legal Strategy: This public record is a gift for attorneys. It establishes a clear pattern of knowledge and prior incidents, which we use to prove the university and national organizations were on notice.
5.4 Baylor University & Southern Methodist University
These private institutions have their own histories. Baylor has faced athletic hazing scandals (e.g., baseball), while SMU has suspended chapters like Kappa Alpha Order for paddling and forced drinking. Private school status affects some procedural rules but does not shield them from liability for negligence.
6. The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look for Snook Parents
We don’t just litigate hazing cases; we investigate them with an intelligence engine built on public data. This allows us to map the vast network of organizations that operate behind the scenes. For Snook parents, this means we can identify every entity with potential liability from day one.
The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: A Snapshot
Our firm maintains a proprietary directory built from IRS filings, university records, and corporate data. Here’s what that reveals about the ecosystem surrounding Texas campuses:
Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses
This is a small sample from our database of over 1,423 Greek-related entities across Texas, showing the formal, registered organizations behind the letters:
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035. This is the housing corporation for the very UH chapter involved in the Bermudez lawsuit.
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 741380362) – Fort Worth, TX 76147.
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN 133048786) – College Station, TX 77845 (Texas A&M).
- Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204 (UH).
- Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (EIN 746047117) – Austin, TX 78705 (UT).
- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 746064445) – Nederland, TX 77627 (Lamar University alumni).
- Sigma Phi Epsilon Texas Eta (EIN 824398421) – Richmond, TX 77406.
Why This Matters to You: When hazing occurs, these incorporated entities—not just the students—often hold insurance policies and assets. Our ability to immediately identify and target them is a decisive advantage in seeking full compensation for victims.
7. Building a Hazing Case: The Attorney911 Approach for Texas Families
Fighting a hazing case against a university and a national fraternity is complex litigation. It requires a specific skill set that our firm has honed over decades of taking on powerful institutions.
Our Investigative Process: Turning Data into Leverage
- Digital Forensics & Evidence Preservation: We secure group chats, recover deleted messages, archive social media posts, and use subpoenas to obtain chapter and national fraternity records. In the UH case, digital evidence was crucial in piecing together the timeline of abuse.
- Identifying the Full Defendant Universe: Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we map out every legally liable entity: the actors, the chapter, the national headquarters, the housing corporation, alumni advisors, and the university.
- Uncovering Pattern Evidence: We research the national organization’s history of hazing incidents (like Pi Kappa Phi’s prior death at Florida State) to prove they knew the risks and failed to act.
- Working with Experts: We collaborate with medical experts to document injuries like rhabdomyolysis, forensic psychologists to assess trauma, life-care planners, and economists to calculate lifelong damages.
Damages: What Can Be Recovered
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish the wrongdoers. Recoverable damages include:
- Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful Death Damages: In tragic cases, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious conduct, courts may award damages meant to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.
Our Unique Firm Advantages
- Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We use that knowledge against them.
- Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants or their teams of high-powered lawyers. Facing down a national fraternity or a state university system is what we do.
- Dual Civil & Criminal Insight: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing investigations and civil lawsuits, allowing us to strategically advise clients through both processes.
8. Practical Guides & FAQs for Snook Parents & Students
For Parents: Warning Signs & First Steps
Red Flags:
- Unexplained injuries, exhaustion, or sudden weight change.
- Personality shifts: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or defensiveness about the group.
- Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
- Receiving mysterious calls/texts at all hours.
- Sudden need for money without a good explanation.
What to Do:
- Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve noticed you seem stressed about the fraternity/sorority/team. What does a typical week look like?”
- Prioritize Safety: If they are injured or intoxicated, seek medical care immediately.
- Preserve Evidence: Help them screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Write down what they tell you.
- Seek Expert Guidance: Contact our firm before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child from retaliation and preserve legal claims.
For Students: Is This Hazing?
- Ask Yourself: Are you being pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal? Would you do this if there were no social consequences? Are you told to keep it secret?
- Your Rights: You have the right to leave any organization. Texas law protects those who report hazing in good faith. “Consent” is not a defense for abusers.
- Exiting Safely: Tell a trusted person first (parent, RA, friend). You can resign via email/text. Do not attend a “final meeting” where pressure or intimidation could occur.
Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case
- Deleting Evidence: Group chats are the #1 source of proof.
- Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
- Signing University Paperwork: Never sign a “resolution” or waiver without an attorney.
- Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything.
- Waiting for the University to “Handle It”: Internal processes are designed to protect the institution, not your child.
FAQs
- Can we sue a Texas public university? Yes. While sovereign immunity exists, exceptions for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and claims against individuals allow for lawsuits, as seen in the UH case.
- What if it happened off-campus? Location does not matter. Liability extends to organizations and universities based on sponsorship, control, and foreseeability.
- How long do we have to file a lawsuit? Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions apply. Do not wait.
- Will our name be public? Most cases settle confidentially. We aggressively protect our clients’ privacy throughout the process.
9. About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Your Texas Hazing Advocates
We are not a high-volume personal injury mill. We are a boutique complex litigation firm that selects cases where we can force institutional change and achieve justice for catastrophically injured victims. The Bermudez case is a perfect example: we are holding a major university and a national fraternity accountable for a system that nearly killed a young man.
Why Snook Families Choose Us:
- We Are Currently in the Fight: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively litigating one of the most significant hazing cases in Texas. We know the current tactics of defense teams because we are facing them right now.
- Deep-Rooted Texas Understanding: Ralph Manginello grew up in Texas. Mr. Lupe Peña is a third-generation Texan from Sugar Land. We understand Texas communities, Texas courts, and Texas families.
- A Commitment to Your Family: We take a limited number of cases to ensure each client gets the attention and resources they deserve. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, because that is how you secure maximum accountability.
Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation
If hazing has touched your family in Snook, Burleson County, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have lawyers. You should too.
Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential case evaluation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you decide the best path forward for your child and your family.
- Call Us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
- Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
- Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
- Hablamos Español: Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.
We serve clients across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us put our experience, data-driven strategy, and determination to work for you.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.
Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.
If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.
The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com
