A Guide for City of Franklin Families: Understanding Hazing, Texas Law, and Your Child’s Safety at Texas Universities

If you are a parent in the close-knit community of City of Franklin, your child’s safety as they step into college life is your paramount concern. The reality that hazing—systematic abuse masked as tradition—persists at major Texas universities can shatter that sense of security. This isn’t an abstract issue. Right now, just a few hours away in Houston, our firm is actively litigating one of the most severe hazing cases Texas has seen, proving that these dangers are immediate, real, and can lead to catastrophic injury.

Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston, joined the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter in Fall 2025. What followed was not brotherhood but a campaign of abuse that nearly killed him. He was subjected to humiliating rituals like carrying a “pledge fanny pack” filled with condoms and sex toys, forced overnight driving duties, and brutal physical hazing. This included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to overconsume milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and extreme workouts at locations including the chapter house and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. The culmination was a November 3rd “workout” where he was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats. Shortly after, he was rushed to the hospital, passing brown urine. He was diagnosed with life-threatening rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization with the risk of permanent kidney damage. We filed a $10 million lawsuit on his behalf against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, and numerous individual members. The chapter was swiftly suspended and voted to surrender its charter. As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, this case is a stark warning of what can happen when institutions fail to protect students.

This guide is for you, the parents and families of City of Franklin in Robertson County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws designed to combat it, and what has been happening at the universities your children attend—from the massive state schools to regional campuses. You will learn your legal rights and the practical steps to take if the unthinkable happens. Our firm, The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), stands ready as Texas-based hazing litigation specialists to help families across our state, including those right here in Central Texas, find answers and accountability.

If you suspect your child is being hazed or has been injured, time is critical. Call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Boys Will Be Boys”

For families in City of Franklin sending their children to college, hazing often brings to mind outdated stereotypes of silly pranks. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, systematic, and digitally enabled. Hazing is any intentional or reckless act expected for joining or maintaining status in a group that endangers the mental or physical health of a student. Critically, under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

Today’s hazing takes multiple forms, often layered together:

• Digital Control & Humiliation: Pledges are often subjected to 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), required to respond instantly at all hours. Humiliating acts are filmed and shared on Snapchat or TikTok. Location-sharing apps are used to track movements.
• Forced Consumption & “Wellness” Disguises: The most deadly pattern remains forced alcohol consumption through games like “Big/Little” or “Bible study.” It also includes forced eating of excessive or disgusting food. Dangerous physical exertion is often framed as “mandatory workouts” or “fitness challenges.”
• Psychological Torment & Isolation: This includes sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, enforced silence, and cutting off contact with family and non-member friends to create dependency on the group.
• Sexualized Violence & Degradation: This ranges from forced nudity and simulated sexual acts to sexual assault. It creates deep, lasting trauma.
• Physical Assault: This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), and exposure to extreme elements.

This happens not only in social fraternities and sororities but also in athletic teams, spirit groups like cheer and drumline, Corps of Cadets programs, and other campus organizations. The culture of secrecy and tradition protects it.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for City of Franklin Families

Texas has specific laws to address hazing, primarily found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37. Understanding this framework is crucial for families seeking accountability.

The Texas Definition (Sec. 37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with any organization that:

1. Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student, OR
2. Involves brutality, forced consumption, or other activity that adversely affects the student’s mental or physical health.

Key Provisions for Families:

• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 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 can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• No Consent Defense (Sec. 37.155): This is critical. It does not matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or knew of the hazing and failed to act.
• Immunity for Reporters (Sec. 37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek medical assistance are immune from civil or criminal liability related to that reporting—a vital protection to encourage saving lives.

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Cases are brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish with jail time, fines, or probation.
• Civil Lawsuits are brought by victims and families to secure compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, future care) and to hold all responsible parties accountable. The two can proceed simultaneously.

Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Civil Case?
A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with liability:

1. Individual Students who planned, participated, or supplied alcohol.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and prior knowledge of patterns.
4. The University for deliberate indifference to a known, substantial risk.
5. Property Owners & Housing Corporations that own the houses where hazing occurs.
6. Third-Party Vendors (e.g., bars, alcohol suppliers under dram shop laws).

The National Hazing Epidemic: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The heartbreaking cases from across the country are not isolated; they reveal predictable, repeated patterns that Texas families must recognize. These cases shape the legal landscape and show what is at stake.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event; died of alcohol poisoning. Result: A $10 million settlement and criminal convictions.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State University (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after a night of forced drinking, with brothers delaying help for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s landmark anti-hazing law.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Settlements with over 20 defendants.

The pattern is clear: forced consumption, delayed medical care, institutional knowledge, and cover-ups. These national histories matter because they establish foreseeability. When a fraternity at UT or Texas A&M uses the same “Big/Little” drinking script that killed Stone Foltz, the national headquarters cannot claim it was an unforeseeable accident. We use this pattern evidence to build powerful cases for Texas families.

The Texas University Landscape: Where City of Franklin Students Go

Families in Robertson County send their students to a wide range of Texas institutions, from local community colleges to the state’s flagship universities. Understanding the specific Greek ecosystems and hazing histories at these schools is essential.

The University of Houston and the Flagship Case

For many City of Franklin students, UH is a major destination. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case outlined above is the most severe current example. UH has a large, active Greek system with multiple governing councils. Past incidents, like a 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case where a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen, show a recurring problem. UH policies prohibit hazing and offer reporting through the Dean of Students and UHPD. However, as the Bermudez lawsuit alleges, policies are meaningless without proactive enforcement and supervision. A case here may involve UHPD, Houston Police, and courts in Harris County.

Texas A&M University and the Corps Culture

Texas A&M is another common choice, with its unique Corps of Cadets culture presenting specific hazing risks alongside traditional Greek life.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.

Texas A&M handles hazing through its Student Conduct Office and Corps regulations. Families must be vigilant about traditions that cross the line into abuse in both Greek and military-style settings.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin sets a standard for transparency with its public Hazing Violations log. This publicly lists organizations, violations, and sanctions—a resource families should check. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for hazing involving forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics.
• Various Spirit & Service Groups: Organizations like the Texas Wranglers have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.

This public record is a double-edged sword: it shows UT’s effort at transparency, but the repeated violations demonstrate the persistent culture. Evidence from this log can be powerful in showing a university’s prior knowledge of a group’s dangerous conduct.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

These private, influential universities have their own significant Greek life and hazing challenges.

• SMU: A 2017 Kappa Alpha Order incident involved paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation, leading to a multi-year suspension. As a private university, SMU has less public reporting but is still subject to Texas hazing law and federal statutes like Title IX.
• Baylor: Following its high-profile athletic scandals, Baylor has faced hazing issues within its sports programs, including a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that resulted in multiple player suspensions.

For families with students at private schools, the legal strategy may differ regarding sovereign immunity, but the core negligence claims against organizations and nationals remain strong.

The Greek Ecosystem: Following the Data from Nationals to City of Franklin

Behind every fraternity or sorority chapter on campus is a network of legally recognized entities—house corporations, alumni associations, educational foundations. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks over 1,400 such organizations across 25 Texas metros to ensure no liable party escapes scrutiny.

For City of Franklin and Robertson County families, this network is relevant because the national organizations operating at your child’s school have deep Texas footprints. For example, the Pi Kappa Phi national organization named in the UH lawsuit is part of a vast system. We maintain a private directory of these entities to immediately identify all potential sources of accountability and insurance coverage in a case.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations (From Public IRS & Cause IQ Records):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni, Beaumont, TX (Lamar University affiliate)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter, Beaumont, TX (Lamar University undergrad chapter)

This data allows us to move beyond the undergraduate chapter name and target the housing corporations that own properties, the alumni associations that fund them, and the national headquarters that insure them. When your child is hazed by “XYZ Fraternity,” we already know how to find every organization behind those letters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Our Approach

If hazing has injured your child, building a powerful case requires immediate, strategic action. Here is what we do and what families must know.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases:

1. Digital Forensics: The #1 source of evidence. We preserve and recover deleted group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), text messages, social media posts (Instagram stories, Snapchat saves), and emails that show planning, coercion, and bragging.
2. Photographic & Medical Evidence: Photos of injuries over time, videos of incidents, and complete medical records that explicitly link injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis diagnosis) to the hazing events.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “big brother” notes, chapter meeting minutes, and risk management reports obtained through discovery.
4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders. We know how to approach witnesses who may be fearful or conflicted.
5. Institutional Records: Prior complaint files against the chapter from the university and the national headquarters, proving a pattern of known, unaddressed misconduct.

Our Strategic Advantages for Texas Families:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or powerful universities. We have the federal court experience and resources to take them on.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Full Economic Damages Analysis: We work with life-care planners, economists, and vocational experts to fully value the lifetime impact of a catastrophic injury—whether it’s permanent kidney damage, a traumatic brain injury, or severe PTSD.

A Practical Guide for City of Franklin Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Physical: Unexplained injuries, burns, or bruises; extreme exhaustion; drastic weight change; signs of alcohol poisoning.
• Behavioral: Sudden secrecy about group activities; withdrawal from family and old friends; anxiety or depression; defensiveness about the organization; constant, anxious phone monitoring.
• Academic: Plummeting grades, missing classes, losing scholarships.
• Financial: Unexplained large expenses or requests for money for “fines” or “mandatory” purchases.

If You Suspect Hazing – The First 48 Hours:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If there is immediate danger or injury, call 911. Get medical attention and tell doctors the injuries may be from hazing.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, texts, and social media posts. Photograph injuries. Do NOT let them delete anything. Secure any physical objects (paddles, clothing).
3. Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what your child tells you.
4. Contact an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: Call 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 child’s rights and preserves the case.
5. Do NOT: Confront the organization directly, sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster, or post details on social media.

For Students – Your Rights & How to Exit Safely:

• You have the right to leave any group at any time, for any reason.
• Under Texas law, your “consent” is not a defense for your abusers.
• If you need to exit, tell a trusted person first (parent, friend, RA), then send a brief written resignation to the chapter president. Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting. Your call to 911 to save a life is protected.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority, giving them time to destroy evidence and coach witnesses.
• Signing a university’s “internal resolution” agreement without an attorney.
• Posting about the incident on public social media.
• Waiting to see how the university “handles it” while evidence disappears.

Why City of Franklin Families Choose The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911)

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the depth of institutional power you are up against and have the proven skill to challenge it. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those here in City of Franklin and Robertson County.

We are not just personal injury attorneys. We are hazing litigation specialists. We combine Mr. Peña’s insider knowledge of insurance defense tactics with Mr. Manginello’s experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases against the largest corporations. We apply the investigative rigor from our work on 18-wheeler crashes and refinery explosions—securing electronic logs, maintenance records, and company files—to hazing cases, where we secure group chats, national fraternity records, and university disciplinary files.

We fight for two things: full accountability from every responsible party and maximum recovery to secure your child’s future medical care, therapy, and education. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has touched your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability starts with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, today for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen compassionately to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. There is no pressure, and everything you tell us is protected.

• 24/7 Hazing Helpline: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

For families in City of Franklin, Bryan, Hearne, Calvert, and throughout the Brazos Valley and Central Texas, we are here to help. Call us now. Let us use our knowledge, data, and experience to fight for your child and your family.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

• Click2Houston report on 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 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 phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Video: Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Video: Client mistakes that can ruin a case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal assistance, please contact an attorney directly.