A Message to Parents in Town of Mildred: When Greek Life Tradition Turns to Trauma
The call every parent fears doesn’t always come in the middle of the night. Sometimes, it’s a hesitant text from your son or daughter, a new college student, saying they’re “really tired” from “pledge events.” Other times, it’s a sudden trip home to Navarro County, with unexplained bruises or a hollow look in their eyes. For families in our close-knit Town of Mildred, where we pride ourselves on looking out for one another, the idea that a child could be systematically abused while seeking friendship and belonging at a Texas university is a devastating rupture of trust.
Right now, just a few hours away in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—a case that shows exactly how quickly “tradition” can become life-threatening. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge who nearly lost his life to hazing in the fall of 2025. According to a detailed ABC13 report, his ordeal included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to overeat until vomiting, and subjected to extreme workouts. The physical toll was catastrophic: he developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring a four-day hospitalization. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter has since been shut down, but for Leonel and his family, the lasting harm is real.
This is not an isolated incident at some faraway school. The same national fraternities and sororities present at UH have active chapters at Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, and campuses across our state. A student from Mildred attending any of these universities could be exposed to the same dangerous dynamics. This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and families in Navarro County. We will explain what hazing looks like today, the full force of Texas law, and how our firm uses unparalleled data and litigation experience to hold every responsible entity accountable, from individual members to national headquarters.
If you are in crisis right now, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.
Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than “Bad Pranks”
For many Mildred families, “hazing” might conjure images of silly scavenger hunts or late-night study sessions. The modern reality is far more sinister, sophisticated, and often digitally enabled. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group.
Today’s hazing often falls into three escalating categories:
- Subtle Hazing: This establishes power imbalance and sets the stage for worse. It includes forced servitude (24/7 designated driving, cleaning members’ apartments), social isolation, being given a demeaning nickname, or mandatory all-night “meetings” that sabotage academics.
- Harassment Hazing: This causes emotional or physical discomfort. It involves sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, forced consumption of unpalatable foods (like hot sauce or excessive milk), and “voluntary” calisthenics used as punishment.
- Violent Hazing: This has a high potential for severe injury or death. It encompasses forced alcohol consumption, physical beatings or paddling, dangerous “rituals” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized acts, and exposure to extreme elements.
The Digital Playbook: In 2025, much of the coercion and evidence lives on smartphones. Pledges in Town of Mildred may be subjected to:
- 24/7 Group Chat Monitoring: Required to respond instantly to messages at all hours or face punishment.
- Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing TikToks or Instagram stories.
- Location Tracking: Required to share their live location via apps like Find My Friends.
- Evidence Destruction: Members quickly delete incriminating GroupMe or Snapchat messages after events.
Understanding these tactics is the first step in recognizing if your child is at risk.
The Law in Texas: Your Child’s Rights and the Path to Justice
Texas has strong laws designed to protect students like yours. The cornerstone is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Here’s what Mildred parents need to know:
Criminal Hazing (Texas Education Code §37.152):
- Hazing is a Class B Misdemeanor.
- It becomes a Class A Misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment.
- It escalates to a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
Critical Legal Principles:
- Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense against hazing charges. The law recognizes the immense power imbalance and peer pressure at play.
- Organizations Can Be Liable (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation.
- Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Students who report hazing or call 911 in a medical emergency are generally protected from university discipline or criminal prosecution related to underage drinking that is revealed during the report.
Civil Liability: Where True Accountability and Recovery Happen
A criminal case punishes the perpetrator. A civil lawsuit, which our firm handles, seeks justice and compensation for the victim and their family. We build cases to hold a wide universe of parties accountable:
- Individual Members & Officers: The ones who planned, executed, or covered up the acts.
- The Local Chapter: As a functioning entity.
- The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce their own policies, or for having prior knowledge of dangerous traditions.
- The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations.
- Property Owners & Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or bars that overserved alcohol.
We fight to recover damages for medical bills, future care, lost educational opportunities, profound pain and suffering, and, in the worst cases, wrongful death.
A Texas-Sized Problem: Hazing at Major Universities Attended by Mildred Students
Families in Navarro County send their children to universities across Texas. The following campuses have documented hazing histories that every parent should be aware of.
University of Houston (UH)
For Mildred families, UH is a major urban university drawing students from across the state.
The Leonel Bermudez vs. Pi Kappa Phi case is a dire warning. The alleged hazing occurred at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. This shows hazing migrates off-campus to avoid detection. UH has multiple Greek councils with over 40 chapters. Prior to this case, other chapters have faced sanctions for alcohol-related and physical hazing incidents. A civil case here would involve Houston police, Harris County courts, and deep investigation into national fraternity records.
Texas A&M University
Many Central Texas and Navarro County students dream of becoming Aggies.
Texas A&M has a dual hazing risk environment: its powerful Greek system and its storied Corps of Cadets. Notably, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter was sued after pledges allegedly suffered severe chemical burns from being doused with industrial-strength cleaner. In the Corps, a 2023 lawsuit alleged cadets were subjected to simulated sexual acts and bound in degrading positions. These cases show that abuse can be framed as “team building” or “military discipline.”
University of Texas at Austin
As Texas’s flagship university, UT attracts top students from Mildred and beyond.
UT maintains a rare public Hazing Violations Log. A review shows recurring issues:
- Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation.
- Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
This public record is a powerful tool, proving these organizations were on notice before any incident involving your child.
Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University
These private, faith-affiliated universities are common choices for Texas families.
At SMU, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor’s baseball team suspended 14 players following a hazing investigation in 2020. These incidents underscore that hazing permeates all types of campuses—large, small, public, and private.
The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Web of Liability
When your child is harmed by “Sigma Alpha Epsilon” or “Pi Kappa Phi,” they are not just facing a group of college students. They are up against a national brand with insurance, lawyers, and a history. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine allows us to map this liability web. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,423 Greek-linked organizations in Texas, built from public records.
For example, our data includes Texas-registered entities like:
- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN: 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 Filing)
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN: 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
This investigative depth means we don’t start from scratch. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national headquarters that may share liability. The national history of these groups is critical. For instance:
- Pi Kappa Alpha was responsible for the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State ($10M settlement).
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon has a national pattern of alcohol-related deaths and injuries.
- Pi Kappa Phi was involved in the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State.
This “pattern and practice” evidence is crucial in court to show these nationals knew the risks and failed to prevent them.
Building an Unbeatable Case: The Attorney911 Advantage for Mildred Families
When you choose our firm, you are not just hiring a lawyer. You are engaging a full-scale investigative and legal team with specific advantages for Texas hazing cases.
1. The Data & Intelligence Advantage:
We deploy our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine from day one. We identify every potential defendant—not just the obvious ones. We subpoena records from nationals showing prior complaints and ineffective policies. We know which insurers are involved and how they operate.
2. The Insider Knowledge Advantage:
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies will try to deny claims, undervalue injuries, and drag out cases. We use this insider playbook against them.
3. The Complex Litigation Pedigree:
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. A national fraternity or major university does not intimidate us. We have the federal court experience and resources to fight them to the end.
4. A Compassionate, Step-by-Step Process:
- Immediate Evidence Preservation: We guide you to use your phone to document evidence before critical digital proof disappears.
- Thorough Investigation: We work with digital forensics experts, medical professionals, and economists to build a complete picture of harm and liability.
- Strategic Demand & Negotiation: We present a formidable, evidence-backed case to force a fair settlement.
- Trial Readiness: We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, because that mindset forces the other side to take us seriously.
A Practical Guide for Mildred Parents & Students
If You Suspect Hazing – ACT NOW.
- Prioritize Safety & Health: If there is any immediate danger or injury, call 911. Seek medical attention and tell doctors exactly what happened.
- Preserve Evidence: Do not delete anything. Take screenshots of all group chats, texts, and social media posts. Photograph injuries. Save any physical items.
- Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
- Seek Legal Counsel Before Reporting: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before making formal reports to the university or police. This allows us to help you navigate the process strategically and protect your rights.
- Beware of Common Pitfalls: Do not confront the organization directly. Do not sign anything from the university. Do not post details on social media. Watch our video on common client mistakes that can ruin a case.
Frequently Asked Questions
- “My child ‘agreed’ to it. Do we have a case?” YES. Texas law explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. The power dynamics negate true consent.
- “How long do we have to sue?” Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but the clock can start in complex ways. Do not wait. Contact us immediately to protect your rights, and learn more about Texas statutes of limitations.
- “Will this bankrupt us?” No. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. See how contingency fees work.
- “We live in Mildred. Can you help us?” Absolutely. We serve families across Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices. We will come to you or arrange virtual consultations.
Why Town of Mildred Families Choose Attorney911
In a community like ours, trust and results matter. We are not a faceless national firm. We are Texas attorneys who understand Texas values, Texas courts, and the specific challenges faced by families in Navarro County and the surrounding areas.
We combine small-firm attention with large-firm capability. Ralph Manginello’s deep Texas roots and Mr. Lupe Peña’s insider insurance experience create a formidable team for the most complex hazing litigation. We speak fluent English and Spanish, ensuring no family is left without a voice.
We are currently fighting for Leonel Bermudez in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are not just talking about hazing law; we are actively making it in the courts.
If your child has been humiliated, injured, or worse by a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or athletic team, you do not have to face this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers. Your family deserves an equal champion.
Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
1-888-ATTY-911 | www.attorney911.com
Se habla Español. Servicios disponibles en Español con el Sr. Lupe Peña.
Plain Text Links to Key Resources:
- Click2Houston coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi case:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/ - ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit:
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/ - Video: Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs - Video: Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c - Video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY - Video: How Contingency Fees Work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc - Attorney911 Main Website:
https://attorney911.com
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts. Contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a consultation regarding your specific situation.
