The Complete Guide to Hazing for Union Valley, Texas Families: Your Rights, Recourse & Real Cases

If you are a parent living in Union Valley, Hunt County, Texas, the news that reaches you from your child’s college campus is supposed to be about grades, friendships, and new experiences. The call you never want to receive is the one about an “incident,” a “hospital visit,” or a vague reference to “pledge activities” that went wrong. Yet for families in towns like ours across Texas, that nightmare is a reality. Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in the country, and it’s happening right here in our state, proving that these dangerous traditions are not isolated to faraway campuses.

At Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC), we represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston (UH), the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and members of its shut-down Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are not vague: forced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and a degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule. They escalated to extreme physical abuse—sprints, bear crawls, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. The result was catastrophic: he developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he could not stand without help, and he was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels, facing a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not a story from a decade ago. This case was filed in late 2025. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH was suspended on November 6 and voted to surrender its charter on November 14. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

For families in Union Valley and across Hunt County—whether your child attends the local Texas A&M University-Commerce or has gone to a major hub like UH, Texas A&M in College Station, or UT Austin—this case is a stark warning. Hazing is here, it is now, and it causes permanent harm. This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, your rights under Texas law, the patterns of abuse at Texas universities, and the legal pathway to accountability. You are not powerless.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN UNION VALLEY

• 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 are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • 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 within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless initiation.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse designed to assert power. For Union Valley families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing it.

A Clear Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. Under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

Hazing today falls into three escalating tiers:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing – The Foundation of Control

These acts establish power imbalance and are often dismissed as “tradition”:

• Servitude & Control: Being “on call” 24/7 for errands, forced chauffeuring at all hours, cleaning members’ spaces.
• Psychological Manipulation: Being assigned a derogatory name, forced silence, social isolation from non-members.
• Digital Monitoring: Required instant responses in group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), mandatory location sharing, and policing of social media activity.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing – Explicit Abuse

These behaviors cause clear emotional or physical discomfort:

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night “meetings” or tasks, 3 AM wake-up calls.
• Forced Consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (milk, bread, hot dogs) or unpleasant substances.
• Humiliation: Public degrading acts, wearing embarrassing costumes, being “grilled” or screamed at.
• Unsanctioned Exercise: “Smokings” or extreme calisthenics framed as “conditioning.”

Tier 3: Violent Hazing – Life-Threatening Acts

These activities have high potential for severe injury or death, as seen in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case:

• Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, drinking games like “Bible study,” line-ups, forced chugging.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beating, branding, or dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles.
• Sexualized Abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
• Environmental Dangers: Exposure to extreme cold/heat, kidnapping, restraint.

Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, Corps of Cadets programs, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is the abuse of power under the guise of tradition.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Union Valley Families Must Know

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, but the legal path to justice involves both criminal and civil courts.

The Texas Education Code (Chapter 37, Subchapter F)

• Definition (Sec. 37.151): Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. This applies on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious bodily injury.
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury.
  • 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.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it is still hazing under Texas law. Courts recognize the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (e.g., Hunt County District Attorney, Harris County DA). Aims to punish with jail, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Case: Brought by the victim and family. Aims to secure compensation for damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. This is where we help families recover medical costs, therapy expenses, and achieve a measure of justice. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

In a civil hazing case, multiple entities can be held liable:

1. The Individuals: Members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The campus organization as a legal entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that set policies, collect dues, and have a history of similar incidents elsewhere (proving “foreseeability”).
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about the dangerous activities and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, property owners, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases below are not ancient history. They establish clear patterns that national fraternities know about—and that still repeat on Texas campuses.

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. Outcome: $10 million settlement ($7M from national fraternity, ~$3M from university).
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A pledge died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking; brothers delayed calling 911. Outcome: Dozens of criminal convictions, landmark Pennsylvania anti-hazing law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Outcome: Felony hazing convictions, the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, a $6.1 million verdict for the family.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A pledge died from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” event. Outcome: Chapter closed, criminal charges.
• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): A pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Outcome: Multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

What This Means for You: These cases show a national playbook: forced drinking, delayed help, institutional cover-ups. When the same national fraternity (like Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, or Sigma Alpha Epsilon) has a chapter in Texas that follows this playbook, it strengthens a civil case by proving the national organization was on notice and failed to prevent it.

Texas Universities: A Guide for Union Valley & Hunt County Families

Union Valley residents often have deep ties to local and major Texas universities. Understanding the landscape, policies, and history at each campus is crucial.

For Union Valley Families: Your Local Campus & Beyond

Parents in Union Valley and Hunt County frequently have students at:

• Texas A&M University-Commerce (Located in Hunt County)
• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Houston
• Baylor University (Waco)
• Southern Methodist University (Dallas)
• Texas State University (San Marcos)
• University of North Texas (Denton)

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Union Valley Families

Below is a sample from our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary directory of public records we maintain to investigate these cases. This shows the vast network of legally registered organizations behind Greek life.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Area (Relevant to Northeast Texas):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 521278573, Dallas, TX 75241 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Beaumont Metro Listing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 263170920, Denton, TX 76204 (IRS B83 Filing – Texas Woman’s University)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Houston Metro Listing)

At Major University Hubs:

• Chi Omega Fraternity, EIN 740555581, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 Filing – UT Austin house corporation)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing – Theta Delta Chapter)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 371768785, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 Filing)

This is a fraction of the 1,423 Greek-related organizations we track across 25 Texas metros. When hazing occurs, we use this data to identify every potentially liable entity—house corporations, alumni associations, national headquarters—that may hold insurance or bear responsibility.

University-Specific Profiles

1. Texas A&M University-Commerce (Your Local Campus)

• For Union Valley Families: This is the university in our own Hunt County backyard. Hazing incidents here may involve local students you know, investigated by local authorities, with legal proceedings in Hunt County courts.
• Documented Incidents: Greek life and student organizations at regional campuses like A&M-Commerce are not immune to hazing. Issues have included allegations of forced drinking and physical intimidation within various groups.
• Action for Parents: Reporting would involve the A&M-Commerce Dean of Students and University Police. A civil case could be filed in Hunt County. We help families navigate the unique dynamics of a regional campus.

2. University of Houston (Site of the Active Bermudez Lawsuit)

• Recent Major Case: As detailed at the outset, we are actively litigating the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. The lawsuit alleges extreme physical hazing leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. You can read the detailed coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13.
• Context: UH has a large, active Greek system. This case demonstrates that even as universities tout anti-hazing policies, severe abuse persists.

3. Texas A&M University (College Station)

• Notable Incidents: Texas A&M has faced serious hazing allegations, particularly within the Corps of Cadets and fraternities.
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): A 2021 lawsuit alleged pledges were subjected to strenuous activity and had substances including industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
  • Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position.
• For Union Valley Families: Many Texas students aspire to attend A&M. Its culture of tradition can sometimes mask abusive behaviors.

4. University of Texas at Austin

• Transparency Tool: UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations log, a resource we use to establish pattern evidence.
• Sample Violations: The log includes cases like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, resulting in probation.
• Fraternity Lawsuits: The UT chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was sued in 2024 by an exchange student alleging a brutal assault at a party.

5. Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

• Private School Context: As private institutions, their disciplinary processes can be less transparent, but they are not exempt from liability. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor’s baseball team faced suspensions over a hazing incident in 2020.
• Legal Strategy: Civil discovery can uncover internal reports and communications that are not publicly available.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

When a family from Union Valley comes to us, we deploy a systematic, data-driven approach built on 25+ years of complex litigation experience.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Evidence: The #1 source. We secure and analyze group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), text messages, social media posts, and emails. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages. Our video on using your phone to document a legal case explains best practices.
2. University & National Records: We subpoena prior conduct records from the university and internal incident reports from the national fraternity/sorority headquarters to prove they were on notice.
3. Medical Documentation: Records diagnosing conditions like rhabdomyolysis, PTSD, depression, or anxiety are critical for proving harm.
4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, and bystanders are often crucial to piecing together the full story.

Our Strategic Advantages for Texas Families

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny or minimize claims. This insider knowledge is invaluable. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
• Experience Against Giants: Attorney Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or powerful universities. We know how to investigate complex institutional failures.
• Full Damages Analysis: We work with economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to document all damages:
  • Economic: Past/future medical bills, lost earning capacity, educational costs.
  • Non-Economic: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
  • Wrongful Death: For the most tragic cases, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s grief.

Practical Steps & FAQs for Union Valley Parents & Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical attention immediately. Document injuries with photos.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot all relevant group chats and messages. Save any physical items. Write a detailed timeline.
3. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can advise on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence.
4. Understand the University’s Role: The school may launch its own investigation, but its primary interest is often risk management. Do not sign any settlement or resolution agreement without an attorney’s review.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes: Do not confront the organization, post on social media, or let your child delete anything. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

For Students:

• If You Are in Danger: Call 911. Texas law and most university policies offer “amnesty” for those who call for help in an emergency.
• Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated, it likely is. Your “consent” under pressure is not real consent.
• How to Exit Safely: You have the right to quit. Send a clear text or email resigning your membership. Inform a trusted adult or the Dean of Students if you fear retaliation.

Critical FAQs for Texas Families

• “Can we sue the university?” Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or if they were deliberately indifferent to a known risk. Public universities have certain immunities, but exceptions exist.
• “How long do we have to file a case?” In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. However, deadlines can be complex. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations and contact us immediately to protect your rights.
• “What will this cost?” We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and no attorney fee unless we win your case. Learn how this works in our video on contingency fees.
• “Will our name be public?” Many cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy throughout the process.

Why Choose Attorney911? Texas Hazing Litigation Specialists

When your family in Union Valley is facing the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the emotional devastation and the legal battlefield. You need attorneys who know how to investigate deeply and fight powerfully.

We Are Currently in the Fight: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively litigating one of the most severe cases in Texas—the Leonel Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. We know the tactics national organizations and universities use because we are facing them right now.

Our Unique Blend of Expertise:

• Ralph Manginello: With over 25 years of experience, federal court admission, and a background in BP explosion litigation and criminal defense (HCCLA), Ralph builds cases that go to the root cause of institutional failure.
• Mr. Lupe Peña: A former insurance defense attorney, Mr. Peña knows the exact strategies insurers will use to deny your claim. His insider knowledge is a decisive advantage. He also provides fluent Spanish-language services.

We combine this with our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of Greek organizations, campus records, and national patterns—so we never start an investigation from zero. We know how to find the entities that bear responsibility.

Contact Us for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at any Texas campus, we are here to help you understand your options and fight for accountability. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Call Attorney911 Today: 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)

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Whether you’re in Union Valley, Greenville, Commerce, or anywhere in Hunt County, we are ready to listen, investigate, and advocate for you.

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