Hazing Lawsuit Guide for Burleson Families: Your Complete Resource for Texas Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Cases

You get a call from your child at college. Their voice is shaky. They’re describing forced all-nighters, humiliating tasks, and a culture of fear masquerading as tradition. Or perhaps the call is worse—a hospital is on the line. Your son or daughter is being treated for acute kidney failure, severe alcohol poisoning, or injuries from a brutal physical hazing ritual. The school is speaking in careful, legalistic terms. The fraternity’s lawyer has already called. You’re in Burleson, feeling hours away, and the nightmare of campus hazing has just become your family’s reality.

Right now, in Texas, we are actively leading one of the most serious hazing litigations in the country. Our firm, Attorney911, represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members of its Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with degrading items, enforced servitude, and extreme physical abuse—including being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” and forced consumption of food until vomiting. This culminated in Mr. Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine, and being hospitalized for four days. This is not a historical case; this is active, high-stakes litigation happening now in our state.

This comprehensive guide is written for you—the parents and families in Burleson, Crowley, Joshua, and across Tarrant and Johnson Counties. Whether your child attends the University of Texas at Arlington just up the road, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, or has ventured farther to Texas A&M, UT Austin, or beyond, you need to understand the reality of modern hazing, the legal landscape in Texas, and the path to accountability. Hazing is not a rite of passage; it is a crime and a civil wrong that can leave lifelong physical and psychological scars. We will walk you through what hazing looks like today, the legal frameworks that protect your child, the troubling histories of national fraternities on our Texas campuses, and the practical steps you must take to protect your family’s rights and future.

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, texts, 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 directly.
    • Sign anything from the university or 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 evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Today

For parents in Burleson who may not have experienced Greek life, modern hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypes of silly pranks or simple peer pressure. It is a systematic process of control, degradation, and often, deliberate endangerment. Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization. Critically, under Texas law, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

Today’s hazing typically falls into three escalating categories:

Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance and set the stage for worse abuse. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation, being assigned a derogatory nickname, mandatory attendance at events that disrupt academics, and “voluntary” tasks with clear social penalties for refusal. Digitally, this now means 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), required location sharing, and policing of social media activity.

Harassment Hazing: Actions that cause emotional or physical discomfort. This involves verbal abuse and threats, systematic sleep deprivation, food or water restriction, forced consumption of unpalatable substances (hot sauce, excessive milk), and physical “smokings” or extreme calisthenics beyond safe limits. Public humiliation, both in-person and via social media, is common.

Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for severe injury, sexual assault, or death. This is where tragedies occur. It includes forced or coerced alcohol consumption (chugging, drinking games like “Bible Study”), forced drug use, physical beatings and paddling, dangerous physical “tests” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized hazing (forced nudity, simulated acts), kidnapping/restraint, and exposure to extreme elements.

The hazing that led to Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization at UH included acts from all three categories: the humiliating “pledge fanny pack” (subtle), sleep deprivation and verbal abuse (harassment), and the violent physical workouts and forced eating that caused life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. For Burleson families, the critical understanding is that if your child is being subjected to any of these behaviors as a condition of membership, it is hazing, it is illegal, and it must be stopped.

The Texas & Federal Law Framework: Your Child’s Legal Rights

As a parent in Texas, you have the right to hold accountable those who harm your child. The legal framework for hazing involves both state criminal statutes and civil liability laws, as well as important federal regulations.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37): Texas has a strong anti-hazing statute. Key provisions every Burleson family must know:

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation/affiliation. It can occur on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it is a state jail felony.
• No Consent Defense (§37.155): It is not a defense that the victim consented to the activity. The law recognizes the coercive power imbalance in these situations.
• Immunity for Reporting (§37.154): A person who, in good faith, reports hazing or calls for emergency medical assistance is immune from civil or criminal liability related to that report. This is designed to encourage saving lives.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges. A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim and family to secure compensation for damages and force institutional change. In a civil hazing case, we can sue multiple parties:

• The individual students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
• The local chapter as an organization.
• The national fraternity or sorority headquarters. Their deep pockets and prior knowledge of hazing patterns across the country are central to building a strong case.
• The university. Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to protect their students. If they knew or should have known about a culture of hazing and failed to act, they can be held liable.
• Third parties, like property owners of off-campus houses or bars that overserved alcohol.

Federal Laws: The Clery Act requires universities to report campus crime statistics, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) mandates greater transparency in hazing reporting and prevention. If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX protections and procedures also come into play.

National Hazing Tragedies: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The heartbreaking cases that make national headlines are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of predictable, recurring patterns within specific organizations. When we see the same patterns at a Texas school, it demonstrates that the national organization and the university were on notice. This “foreseeability” is a powerful legal concept.

• The Forced Drinking Pattern: This is the most common cause of hazing death.
  • Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to Pennsylvania’ Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law’ and resulted in dozens of criminal convictions.
  • Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s ‘Max Gruver Act,’ making hazing a felony.
  • Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pike nationals, ~$3M from the university).
• The Physical Ritual Pattern:
  • Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head trauma after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania.
• The Athletic Hazing Pattern:
  • Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and a confidential settlement. This proves hazing is not limited to Greek life.

These national precedents matter for Burleson families. They show that juries and courts will hold organizations financially and criminally responsible. They show that universities can be compelled to change. And they provide a legal roadmap for holding the powerful entities behind your child’s suffering accountable.

The Texas Hazing Landscape: Universities Relevant to Burleson Families

Your child’s path from Burleson may lead to a nearby campus or a major university across the state. Wherever they are, understanding that campus’s specific history and policies is crucial.

University of Texas at Arlington & Texas Christian University: The Local Campuses

For many Burleson and Johnson County families, UT Arlington and TCU in Fort Worth are the most accessible major universities.

UT Arlington has active Greek life and, like all large schools, has dealt with hazing incidents. Its proximity means many investigations would involve Tarrant County courts and law enforcement. The university is subject to all Texas hazing laws and federal regulations. Any case here would be deeply familiar to our firm, which operates in the heart of this legal jurisdiction.

TCU, a private university in Fort Worth with a prominent Greek system, has seen its share of scandals. Notably, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended in 2017 for hazing that included paddling and forced drinking. As a private institution, TCU has fewer sovereign immunity hurdles than public schools, but it also tightly controls internal information. A skilled legal team is essential to navigate their process and uncover the truth.

Major Texas University Hazing Histories

When Burleson students head to the state’s flagship schools, they enter environments with documented hazing problems.

University of Houston (UH): Our flagship case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is the most current and severe example. The allegations reveal a system that allowed brutal physical abuse and humiliation to flourish. UH’s response—calling the conduct “deeply disturbing” after the fact—highlights the reactive nature of institutional responses. Prior to this, UH has suspended chapters for hazing, including a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter in 2016 after a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.

Texas A&M University: The culture of tradition in College Station extends to hazing risks in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): In a 2021 lawsuit, A&M SAE pledges alleged they were covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. These cases show hazing permeates different aspects of campus life.

University of Texas at Austin: UT has taken a more transparent approach than most, publicly listing hazing violations on its website. This public record is a treasure trove for establishing pattern evidence. Entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Various spirit groups and other fraternities have been disciplined for forced drinking, physical abuse, and humiliation.

Baylor University: In the shadow of its larger athletic scandals, Baylor has faced hazing issues within its programs, including a 2020 suspension of 14 baseball players following a hazing investigation. Its religious affiliation does not shield it from legal responsibility for student safety.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: The Data Behind the Letters

When you hear “Pi Kappa Phi” or “Sigma Alpha Epsilon,” you’re hearing the brand name. But behind that brand is a complex web of legal entities: the national headquarters, local housing corporations, alumni chapters, and educational foundations. These entities often hold insurance policies and assets. At Attorney911, we don’t just sue the students; we use public records and investigative resources to identify every potentially liable organization. For example, our data tracking includes Texas-registered entities like:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515) in Frisco, TX.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 74-6064445) in Nederland, TX.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated (EIN 88-2755427) in San Marcos, TX.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362) in Fort Worth, TX.

This is just a snapshot from our proprietary directory of over 1,400 Greek-related organizations tracked across Texas. For Burleson families, this means we start your case with a map, not a blank page. We know how to find the organizations behind the harm.

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Winning a hazing case requires converting outrage into a legally compelling narrative backed by irrefutable evidence. Our approach, honed over decades of complex litigation against institutions like BP, is methodical and aggressive.

Critical Evidence We Secure:

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages, Instagram DMs. We work with experts to recover what they tried to destroy.
2. Internal Chapter Records: Pledge manuals, “big/little” instructions, meeting minutes, and communications with national headquarters.
3. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter, emails between administrators, Clery Act reports, and Title IX files obtained through discovery.
4. Medical Documentation: ER records, toxicology reports, psychological evaluations for PTSD, and expert testimony on long-term effects like kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Overcoming Standard Defenses: We anticipate the playbook because Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, used to be an insurance defense lawyer for large firms. We know how they will argue:

• “The victim consented.” → Texas law explicitly voids this defense.
• “It was a rogue chapter; national didn’t know.” → We subpoena national’s records to show prior, identical incidents at other chapters, proving foreseeability.
• “It happened off-campus.” → Liability is based on control and sponsorship, not just geography. The Pi Delta Psi conviction for a retreat death proves this.
• “We have an anti-hazing policy.” → We show the gap between paper policy and enforcement, or how the policy was ignored.

Damages: What Can Be Recovered
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and deter future conduct. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, and educational costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and send a message.

The $10 million demand in the Bermudez case reflects the severity of lifelong kidney damage and trauma. Settlements in fatal cases, like the $10 million for Stone Foltz and the $6.1 million verdict for Max Gruver, show what is possible when families fought back with experienced counsel.

Practical Guide for Burleson Parents & Students

If You Suspect Hazing – ACT NOW.

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If there is any immediate danger or injury, call 911 and get to an ER.
2. Preserve Evidence IMMEDIATELY: This is the most critical step. Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, text threads, and social media posts. Take photos of injuries. Do not delete anything.
3. Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your rights and preserves evidence. Do not confront the organization directly.
5. Understand University Limitations: The school’s primary interest is limiting its own liability. Their “internal investigation” is not designed to maximize justice or compensation for your family.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:

• Deleting evidence to “protect” friends or the chapter.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority before speaking with a lawyer, which triggers their defense strategy.
• Signing any documents from the university or an insurance adjuster.
• Posting about the incident on social media, where defense lawyers will mine for inconsistencies.
• Waiting to see what the university does while the statute of limitations ticks and evidence vanishes.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a team with specific expertise in institutional cover-ups, insurance bad faith, and the unique culture of campus organizations. You need a firm that isn’t intimidated by national fraternities or billion-dollar university systems.

Our Proven Advantages:

• Insider Insurance Knowledge (Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to be on their team.
• Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello): Our managing partner was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced down the deepest-pocketed, most powerful defendants and understand the complex discovery and expert testimony required to win.
• Multi-Million Dollar Results: We have a proven track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We work with top economists and life-care planners to build undeniable damage models.
• Criminal & Civil Dual Capability: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can advise on all fronts.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking hundreds of Greek entities across the state—so we start your case with knowledge, not guesswork.
• Spanish-Language Services (Se habla Español): Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For Burleson, Crowley, and Joshua families, we are your dedicated Texas hazing litigation resource. Whether your child was hurt at UTA, TCU, Texas A&M, or any campus in the nation, we have the expertise to help.

Your Path Forward Starts with a Confidential Conversation

The decision to pursue legal action is deeply personal. It’s about justice, accountability, securing necessary care for your child, and ensuring no other family endures this pain.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) for a free, completely confidential consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen to your story with empathy and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal options available to your family in clear, straightforward terms.
• Discuss the realistic timeline, process, and potential outcomes.
• Answer all your questions about costs—we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

You are not alone. The phone call you dread making is the first step toward reclaiming power, safety, and future for your child.

Call Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Hablamos Español: Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

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