Your Comprehensive Guide to Fraternity and Sorority Hazing Laws in Texas: What Sunrise Beach Village Families Need to Know

If Your Child Was Hurt in a Hazing Incident, You Are Not Alone

For families in Sunrise Beach Village, the idyllic image of your child’s college experience can shatter in an instant. The call home isn’t about mid-term grades or dorm life; it’s a frantic, confused story about a “pledge event,” a late-night “workout,” or a hospital visit for something no one will fully explain. You feel fear, anger, and a profound sense of powerlessness. The institutions involved—the powerful university, the national fraternity with deep pockets—seem intent on minimizing what happened, controlling the narrative, and protecting their reputation above all else.

Right now, in our own state, we are witnessing exactly how destructive and systemic this problem is. We are The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911, and we represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members. His story is a harrowing blueprint of modern hazing: forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” subjected to hours of extreme physical abuse, sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner “similar to waterboarding,” and forced to consume excessive food until vomiting. This culminated in rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days and faces the risk of permanent kidney damage. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter has been shut down, but the fight for full accountability is just beginning.

This is not an isolated incident. It is the predictable result of a culture that persists on campuses across Texas, including those where your children from Sunrise Beach Village and the surrounding Highland Lakes region may study. This guide exists to cut through the confusion, fear, and institutional stonewalling. We will explain what hazing really looks like today, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, and the legal pathways to securing accountability, justice, and the resources needed for recovery.

If you are in crisis right now, call 911 for medical emergencies, then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we provide immediate help.

Understanding Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For parents in tight-knit communities like Sunrise Beach Village, hazing might conjure images of outdated, “boys will be boys” pranks. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, psychologically complex, and digitally enabled. Hazing is any intentional or reckless act expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group that endangers their mental or physical health. Consent is not a defense under Texas law because the power dynamics—the desire to belong, fear of exclusion, and intimidation by older members—render true free choice impossible.

Modern hazing evolves to avoid detection, often hiding behind euphemisms like “team building,” “character development,” or “tradition.” For families in Llano County, it’s crucial to recognize its forms:

• Digital Hazing & Coercion: Constant monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), demands for immediate responses at all hours, forced social media humiliation, and location sharing. Sleep deprivation is now often enforced through a buzzing phone, not a loud alarm.
• Psychological Manipulation: Systematic isolation from non-members and family, enforced secrecy, verbal degradation, and threats of expulsion for “failing” the group. The goal is to break down individual identity and foster absolute loyalty.
• “Optional” But Mandatory Activities: Events are framed as voluntary, but non-participation means social ostracization and denial of a “Big Brother/Sister.” This creates legal cover for the organization while maintaining coercive pressure.
• Physical Endurance as Punishment: Not athletic conditioning, but punitive, dangerous “smokings” or “workouts” designed to exhaust and inflict pain. This includes forced calisthenics to the point of collapse, exposure to extreme elements, or painful physical stunts.
• Forced Consumption Rituals: The most deadly pattern. This includes coerced drinking games (“lineups,” “century club”), forced ingestion of unpalatable or excessive amounts of food (milk, hot dogs, raw onions), or pressure to use drugs.
• Sexualized Degradation: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and humiliating costumes or roles. This often overlaps with Title IX violations and can cause profound, lasting trauma.

These acts frequently occur off-campus at rental houses, Airbnb properties, or remote “retreats” to evade university oversight. For a student from a supportive community like Sunrise Beach Village, the sudden immersion into this controlled, hostile environment can be profoundly disorienting and dangerous.

The Texas Legal Framework: Your Family’s Rights and Recourse

Texas takes a firm stance against hazing. The primary law is found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding its provisions is the first step toward empowerment for Llano County families.

Texas Hazing Law (Key Provisions):

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed at a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): 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 who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters also face criminal charges.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or other student organization itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is critical. It does not matter if your child “went along with it.” The law recognizes that peer pressure and power imbalance invalidate true consent.
• Immunity for Reporters (§37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek emergency medical assistance are immune from civil or criminal liability related to that reporting.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Recovery
A criminal case, pursued by the state, focuses on punishment. A civil lawsuit, which you can pursue, focuses on securing compensation for damages and holding every responsible party accountable. These are not mutually exclusive; both can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we seek to prove negligence, gross negligence, or intentional wrongdoing against a universe of defendants:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, supervised, and carried out the acts.
2. The Local Chapter: As a functioning entity that allowed a culture of abuse to flourish.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Which often has deep knowledge of these patterns, provides inadequate supervision, and may prioritize dues and reputation over safety.
4. The University: Which has a legal duty to provide a safe environment, properly vet and supervise recognized student organizations, and respond effectively to known risks.
5. Third Parties: This can include property owners of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, or event vendors.

The National Hazing Epidemic: Patterns That Predict Tragedy

The hazing that affects Texas students is not unique; it follows well-documented, deadly national patterns. These are not “accidents” but foreseeable outcomes of specific, repeated rituals.

• The Forced Drinking Death Pattern: This remains the most common cause of fatalities.
  • Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking; help was critically delayed.
  • Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His case led to Louisiana’ felony hazing statute.
  • Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. His family secured a $10 million settlement from the national fraternity and university.
• The Physical “Ritual” Pattern: Brutal tradition disguised as rite of passage.
  • Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from brain injuries after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of criminal charges.
• The Athletic Hazing Pattern: Extends far beyond Greek life.
  • Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, revealing systemic failure in a major athletic program.

These cases matter to Sunrise Beach Village families because they establish critical legal principles: national organizations have prior knowledge of these risks, universities can be held accountable for deliberate indifference, and juries will award significant damages for these profound failures.

Texas Universities Under the Microscope: Where Sunrise Beach Village Students Study

Families in Sunrise Beach Village and the Highland Lakes region send their students to universities across Texas. The hazing risk is present at institutions large and small, public and private. Here is what you need to know about the major campuses.

The University of Houston & The Leonel Bermudez Case

The ongoing case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is a stark, current example of the severe litigation now necessary to combat hazing.

• The Incident: As detailed in lawsuits and media reports, Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, endured months of systematic abuse as a Pi Kappa Phi pledge in Fall 2025. Hazing occurred at the chapter house, a residence on Culmore Drive, and at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. Acts included the humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” being sprayed with a hose, forced overconsumption leading to vomiting, and extreme physical workouts.
• The Medical Crisis: The brutal “workout” on November 3, 2025, led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He was hospitalized for four days. The chapter was suspended by nationals on November 6 and voted to surrender its charter on November 14.
• The Legal Action: Attorney911 filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County against UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• For UH Families: This case demonstrates that even at a major urban university, dangerous hazing persists. It also shows that decisive legal action is required to pierce institutional defenses.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets Culture

Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets and robust Greek life present specific hazing challenges.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Two pledges sued the chapter, alleging they were doused with a mixture including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Allegations (2023): A lawsuit alleged a freshman cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.
• For Texas A&M Families: The blend of military tradition and Greek life can create high-pressure environments where abusive practices are normalized as “building toughness.” Vigilance is required for students in both systems.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing disclosure logs in the state, which itself reveals an ongoing problem.

• Public Hazing Violations Log: UT’s website publicly lists sanctioned organizations. Recent entries include:
  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for hazing involving forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics.
  • Various spirit groups and fraternities for forced drinking, sleep deprivation, and degrading activities.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Lawsuit (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged he was assaulted by SAE members at a party, suffering a broken nose, fractured tibia, and dislocated leg.
• For UT Austin Families: UT’s transparency is a tool. Parents can check an organization’s history, and that public record becomes powerful evidence in a lawsuit to show a pattern of known misconduct.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

These prominent private universities are not immune.

• SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order has faced suspensions for paddling and alcohol hazing.
• Baylor University’s baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation.
• For SMU & Baylor Families: Private university status can mean less public disclosure, but it does not limit legal liability. Civil discovery can uncover internal reports and communications that publics universities might release via open records requests.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When your child is harmed by a chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or Pi Kappa Alpha, you are not just fighting a group of college students. You are confronting a national organization with a history, a risk management playbook, and insurance policies. Their past is directly relevant to your case.

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The national organization was liable in the $10 million Stone Foltz death settlement at Bowling Green State. This national pattern of “Big/Little” drinking nights makes similar conduct at any Pike chapter, including those in Texas, foreseeable.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): SAE has been involved in numerous high-profile hazing deaths and injuries across the country, leading it to famously abolish the “pledge” status years ago—a reform that highlights its deep awareness of the risk. Its chapters at Texas A&M and UT Austin have faced serious litigation.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The national fraternity is a primary defendant in our Leonel Bermudez case at UH. It was also the fraternity involved in the death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University in 2017.

Why This Matters Legally: In court, we use this national history to prove that the organization’s headquarters knew or should have known that their chapters were at high risk for these specific, dangerous activities. It shatters the defense of “these were just rogue individuals” and builds a case for negligent supervision and gross negligence against the deep-pocketed national entity.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Uncover the Full Picture

At Attorney911, we don’t start from scratch. We begin with data. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine is built from public records, including IRS filings for Greek organizations (IRS B83), university databases, and metro-level organizational data. This allows us to immediately identify every potentially liable entity connected to a chapter.

Public Records Directory: A Snapshot of the Greek Ecosystem Relevant to Texas Families
For families in Sunrise Beach Village, understanding that a fraternity is more than just its name is crucial. Behind the letters are housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national entities—all with addresses, EIN numbers, and potential liability. Here are examples from our proprietary database:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN 37-1768785 – Missouri City, TX 77459
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786 – College Station, TX 77845
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 74-6084905 – Houston, TX 77204
  (Source: IRS B83 Public Filings)

We cross-reference this with data from Texas metros. For example, the Austin-Round Rock metro has over 150 Greek-related organizations. This investigative depth means when a family from Llano County comes to us, we already have a map of the organizational structure we may need to investigate.

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, aggressive strategy from day one. The other side—national fraternities and university insurers—have experienced defense lawyers. We counter with deeper investigation and proven litigation experience.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages. Social media posts, Instagram stories, and Snapchat memories. We work with experts to recover what has been hidden.
2. Internal Chapter Records: “Pledge books,” meeting minutes, emails between officers, and communications with national headquarters.
3. National Fraternity Files: Prior incident reports for the chapter, risk management training materials, and evidence of what the national organization knew about hazing risks.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, Clery Act reports, and internal emails showing the university’s knowledge and response (or lack thereof).
5. Medical & Psychological Documentation: ER records, diagnoses of PTSD or depression, and long-term care plans for catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injury or permanent organ damage.

The Damages We Fight to Recover:
Our goal is to make your family whole and force change. Recoverable damages include:

• All Medical Expenses: Past and future, including hospital stays, surgery, therapy, and long-term care.
• Lost Educational Opportunity: Tuition for disrupted semesters, lost scholarships, and delayed entry into the workforce.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and humiliation.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If injuries prevent your child from pursuing their chosen career.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s profound grief.

Practical Guide for Sunrise Beach Village Parents & Students

If You Suspect Hazing – ACT NOW. Evidence disappears within days.

For Parents:

• Listen Without Judgment: If your child opens up, prioritize their safety and trust over your anger.
• Secure Medical Care: Any injury, including psychological trauma, needs professional documentation.
• Preserve Evidence IMMEDIATELY: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, text threads, and social media posts related to the group. Take photos of any injuries. Do not delete anything.
• Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
• Consult a Lawyer FIRST: Before reporting to the university or speaking to insurance adjusters, speak with us. We can guide you on how to report effectively while protecting your rights.

For Students:

• Your Safety is Paramount: If you are in danger, call 911.
• Texas Law Protects Reporters: You have immunity for good-faith reporting, especially when seeking medical help.
• You Can Leave: You have the right to quit any organization at any time. True brotherhood/sisterhood is not built on fear and pain.
• Preserve Proof: Take screenshots, save emails, and tell a trusted person outside the group what is happening.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly (they will lawyer up and destroy evidence).
• Signing any documents from the university or an insurance company without having an attorney review them.
• Posting details on public social media.
• Waiting to see how the university “handles it.” Internal processes are designed to limit institutional liability, not deliver justice.

Why Families in Sunrise Beach Village Trust Attorney911

When your family faces a crisis against a powerful university and a national fraternity, you need advocates who have been on the other side and know how to win. Our entire practice is built for complex institutional fights.

• 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, employ delay tactics, and fight coverage. We use their playbook against them.
• Proven Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporate defendant. We are not intimidated by deep-pocketed opponents.
• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This isn’t theoretical knowledge; we are in the trenches right now, fighting the same battles you may face.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We don’t start empty-handed. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us a map of liability that other firms lack.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure in hazing cases and can advise on all legal fronts.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in our community receive clear, compassionate counsel.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For families in Sunrise Beach Village, Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, and throughout Llano and Burnet Counties, we are your dedicated Texas hazing litigation resource.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, the path forward begins with a conversation. We offer a free, completely confidential case evaluation.

During this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the investigative process and potential strategies.
• Answer all your questions about costs (we work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win).
• Provide honest, straightforward advice with zero pressure.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have legal teams. You deserve the same fierce advocacy.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 Today:

• Call Our Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Phone: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se Habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly for consultation in Spanish.

Let us help you secure justice, obtain the resources for recovery, and hold every responsible party accountable. Call now.

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. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship until a written agreement is signed.