Texas Hazing Lawsuit Guide for Willow Park Families: University & Fraternity Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed, You Are Not Alone

For parents in Willow Park, Parker County, the call can come at any hour. Your child, away at college, sounds different—exhausted, secretive, frightened. They mention “mandatory” late-night meetings, unexplained injuries, or a culture of fear within their fraternity, sorority, Corps unit, or team. You suspect hazing, but you don’t know what to do, who to trust, or where to turn.

Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a former pledge at the University of Houston (UH), in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston System Board of Regents, and 13 fraternity leaders.

According to the lawsuit and news reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s fall 2025 pledge period involved being forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” endure hours-long “study” blocks, and chauffer members overnight. The physical abuse escalated: sprints, bear crawls, lying in vomit-soaked grass, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

The breaking point was a November 3rd workout: over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Bermudez’s body broke down. He developed rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended on November 6th, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14th. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern. And it happens at universities where Willow Park families send their children: the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, and campuses across the state.

This guide is for you—the parent in Willow Park, Aledo, Hudson Oaks, or anywhere in Parker County and the greater Fort Worth area who needs answers, not alarm. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, the Texas laws that govern it, the national cases that set the precedent, and what legal options your family may have. Our firm, The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911, is based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we serve hazing victims and their families throughout Texas, including right here in Parker County.

If you are in crisis right now, call 911 for medical emergencies. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than “Just Part of College”

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group. It is not “tradition” or “team building.” It is abuse, often disguised. For Willow Park families, understanding its modern forms is the first step to recognizing danger.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances. The goal is rapid incapacitation, not social drinking.
2. Physical & Endurance Hazing: This goes beyond tough workouts. It includes paddling or beatings; extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings”); sleep and food deprivation; exposure to extreme elements; and dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles.
3. Psychological & Sexualized Hazing: This aims to break down identity through humiliation. It includes forced nudity or sexual simulations; verbal abuse and threats; racial, sexist, or homophobic degradation; social isolation; and being forced to perform embarrassing acts in public or on social media.
4. Digital Hazing & Control: This is the 21st-century enforcer. Pledges are controlled through 24/7 group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), required to share live locations, forced to post humiliating content on TikTok or Instagram, and subjected to cyberstalking if they resist.

Hazing is not confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like cheer and dance, marching bands, Corps of Cadets programs, ROTC units, and other campus organizations. The common thread is an imbalance of power, a culture of secrecy, and the exploitation of a desire to belong.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Willow Park Family’s Legal Framework

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, primarily found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding this framework is crucial for families in Parker County seeking accountability.

The Texas Definition & “Consent” is Not a Defense

The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation that endangers physical or mental health. Critically, Texas Education Code § 37.155 states that the victim’s “consent” is not a defense. Courts recognize that “agreement” under peer pressure and threat of exclusion is not voluntary.

Criminal vs. Civil Liability: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (e.g., Parker County District Attorney, Travis County DA). Charges can range from Class B Misdemeanor hazing to State Jail Felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. Individuals can also be charged with assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims or their families to seek financial compensation and institutional accountability. This is where our firm represents families. Claims can include:
  • Negligence & Gross Negligence: The organization failed to exercise reasonable care.
  • Negligent Supervision: The national fraternity or university failed to oversee the chapter.
  • Premises Liability: The property owner (university, housing corp.) failed to keep the premises safe.
  • Wrongful Death: In the event of a fatality.
  • Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

These paths can run concurrently. A lack of criminal charges does not prevent a civil lawsuit.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?

A thorough investigation identifies every potentially responsible party, creating maximum leverage for a just outcome. Defendants can include:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned and carried out the acts.
• The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to enforce its own policies and for negligent supervision of its chapters.
• The University or College: For deliberate indifference to a known threat or failure to protect students.
• Alumni Housing Corporations & Boards: Which own and control chapter houses.
• Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or bars that overserved alcohol.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Ecosystem

We maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to track the Greek organizational landscape in Texas. For Willow Park families, this means we don’t start from scratch. We already know the legal entities behind the letters.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving DFW & Texas Families

Below is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations, illustrating the complex web of housing corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies that operate across the state, including in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area that encompasses Parker County.

• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83 filing, Cause IQ metro listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter, EIN 521278573, Dallas, TX 75241 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 filing, Cause IQ metro listing for Houston/Beaumont)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 filing)
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Chi Omega House Corporation, EIN 740555581, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Eta Upsilon Chapter, College Station, TX (Cause IQ metro listing for Texas A&M)
• Delta Tau Delta – Gamma Iota Chapter, Austin, TX (Cause IQ metro listing for UT Austin)

This is just a snapshot. Our full engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 510 in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area alone. This data-driven approach allows us to immediately identify the insurance carriers, legal entities, and organizational hierarchies behind a hazing incident.

National Hazing Cases: The Precedents That Protect Texas Families

The tragic cases below are not just news stories; they are legal precedents that show how courts hold organizations accountable. They prove that hazing is foreseeable and preventable.

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. The $10 million settlement ($7M from nationals, $3M from university) shows the financial cost of failure.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a night of forced drinking, with help delayed for hours. The case led to the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and resulted in dozens of criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. The $6.1 million verdict for his family spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): A pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family secured multi-million-dollar settlements from 22 defendants, illustrating the lifelong cost of non-fatal hazing.
• Collin Wiant – Ohio Univ., Sigma Pi (2018): A freshman died after alleged hazing involving nitrous oxide. The case led to “Collin’s Law” in Ohio, strengthening anti-hazing penalties.

These cases establish patterns: forced drinking, delayed medical care, institutional knowledge, and cover-ups. The same national organizations involved in these tragedies—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Texas universities.

Texas University Focus: Where Willow Park Families Send Their Kids

Willow Park students often attend universities across Texas, from nearby DFW institutions to major hubs elsewhere in the state. Hazing is a risk at all of them.

Texas Christian University (TCU) & The DFW Metro

For many Parker County families, TCU in Fort Worth is a primary destination. It has a significant Greek life presence. Incidents have occurred here, as they have across the country. When hazing happens at TCU, it may involve Fort Worth Police, Tarrant County courts, and national fraternities with a documented history of violations. We understand the local legal landscape.

University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

As a major commuter school in the heart of the metroplex, UTA has numerous student organizations. Hazing investigations here fall under UTA Police and Arlington PD. The proximity to Willow Park means evidence collection, witness interviews, and court proceedings are logistically manageable for affected families.

Major Statewide Hubs for Willow Park Students

Many Parker County students also attend larger universities across Texas. These schools have public records of hazing incidents:

• University of Houston (UH): As the Bermudez case proves, severe hazing occurs here. UH publishes some disciplinary records, but lawsuits often uncover deeper institutional failures.
• Texas A&M University: The Corps of Cadets and Greek system have faced serious allegations, including a lawsuit where a cadet alleged being bound in a “roasted pig” position and a Sigma Alpha Epsilon case involving chemical burns.
• University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log. Entries show sanctions for groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forcing milk consumption and strenuous exercise, and other spirit groups for alcohol hazing.
• Southern Methodist University (SMU): As a private university, SMU has less public reporting, but incidents occur. Past suspensions, like one involving Kappa Alpha Order for paddling and forced drinking, show ongoing risks.
• Baylor University: Following past scandals, Baylor emphasizes “zero tolerance,” yet hazing persists, including a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that led to multiple player suspensions.

Fraternity & Sorority Histories: National Patterns, Local Harm

The national organization behind a local chapter matters. A history of incidents across the country establishes “foreseeability”—the national HQ knew or should have known the risks.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Nationals paid $7 million in the Stone Foltz settlement after a history of “Big/Little” alcohol deaths.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced wrongful death lawsuits nationwide, including a traumatic brain injury case at Alabama and a chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national headquarters is a defendant in our Bermudez case at UH, following the fatal Andrew Coffey case at Florida State.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU led to a felony law and massive civil verdict.

When a chapter at UT, A&M, or TCU repeats these deadly patterns, it strengthens a civil case against the national organization for negligent supervision and failure to act on prior knowledge.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, aggressive investigation from day one. Here is what we do for families.

The Evidence That Matters Most

1. Digital Evidence: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage) are the #1 source of evidence. We secure screenshots and use digital forensics to recover deleted messages. Social media posts, DMs, and location-sharing data are also critical.
2. Medical Documentation: Immediate ER records are vital. We obtain all records showing diagnosis (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning), lab results, and statements to doctors about the cause of injury.
3. Physical Evidence: Photos of injuries, damaged clothing, paddles, or alcohol containers.
4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, roommates, RAs, and former members. We act quickly before stories are aligned.
5. Institutional Records: Through discovery, we obtain the national fraternity’s prior incident reports, the university’s conduct files on the chapter, and communications that show who knew what and when.

Our video on using your phone to document evidence offers crucial guidance for families in the immediate aftermath.

Recoverable Damages in a Hazing Lawsuit

The law allows compensation for the full scope of harm:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, cost of therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If tragedy strikes, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or cover-ups, courts may award damages to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

• Deleting messages or “cleaning up” evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly (they will destroy evidence).
• Signing anything from the university or an insurance adjuster without an attorney.
• Posting details on social media.
• Waiting to see how the university “handles it.” Evidence disappears fast.

We detail these pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

Practical Guide for Willow Park Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), sudden secrecy about group activities, constant phone monitoring of group chats, declining grades, and requests for large sums of money.

What to Do NOW:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured or intoxicated, go to the ER. Tell doctors it was hazing.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, text threads, and social media posts. Photograph injuries. Do not delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you—dates, names, locations, specific acts.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can guide you on how to report to campus police or the Dean of Students in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves the case.
5. Do Not Engage: Do not contact the fraternity/sorority, the university president, or insurance adjusters. Let us handle all communication.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely

If you feel pressured, endangered, or humiliated to belong, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not valid in Texas law.

To Exit Safely:

• Tell a trusted person outside the group (parent, RA, counselor) first.
• Send a brief, written resignation to the chapter president (email or text): “I resign my membership/pledgeship effective immediately.”
• Do not attend “one last meeting.” That is where pressure and retaliation happen.
• If you fear retaliation, report it to campus police and the Dean of Students immediately. You have rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

“We are in Willow Park. Can you help us if the school is in another city?”
Yes. We are a Texas-based firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we serve clients statewide. We handle cases in Parker County, Tarrant County, and across Texas. We manage the logistics of investigations and litigation wherever the campus is located.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years from the date of injury or death. However, this can be complex, especially with ongoing cover-ups. Do not wait. Call us immediately to protect your rights. Learn more in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

“How much does it cost to hire you?”
We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury hazing cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. Watch our explanation of how contingency fees work.

“Will my child’s name be dragged through the media?”
Our goal is always to protect our client’s privacy. Most cases settle confidentially before a public trial. We use strategic legal tools to seek sealed records and private resolutions.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Why We Fight for Hazing Victims

When your family is in a legal emergency caused by hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the powerful institutions you’re up against and know how to win.

Our unique advantages come directly from our attorneys’ backgrounds:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: 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 fight claims, undervalue injuries, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background here.
• Proven Experience Against Giant Institutions: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar corporate defendants. Taking on a national fraternity or a major university system requires the same fearlessness and complex litigation skill. See Ralph’s full profile here.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing cases. We can effectively advise families and witnesses navigating both criminal investigations and civil lawsuits.
• A Data-Driven Investigative Engine: We don’t start from zero. We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from public IRS filings, university data, and metro records—to immediately identify all potentially liable entities, from the local chapter to the national housing corporation.
• Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Mr. Peña is fluent and can provide full legal services to Spanish-speaking families.

We are currently fighting for Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We apply the same relentless dedication to every family we represent.

A Confidential Consultation for Willow Park Families

If hazing has hurt your child, you are in a fight for their health, their future, and for basic accountability. The university and the organization will have their lawyers and public relations teams from day one. You should have experienced, aggressive advocates on your side just as quickly.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

We serve families in Willow Park, Aledo, Weatherford, and throughout Parker County and Texas.

What to Expect When You Call:

1. We will listen compassionately to your story.
2. We will review any evidence you have gathered.
3. We will explain your legal options in clear, straightforward terms.
4. We will outline the investigation process and what comes next.
5. We will answer all your questions about the process, timeline, and costs.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Visit our website for more information: https://attorney911.com

You don’t have to face this alone. Let us help you secure the justice, compensation, and peace of mind your family deserves.

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 us or another qualified attorney for a consultation regarding your individual situation. The information is current as of late 2025.

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