Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Families in Arp and Smith County

If your child attends college in Texas—whether at a local campus like The University of Texas at Tyler or a major hub like Texas A&M—the fear that hazing could touch your family is real. Right now, in Harris County, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after extreme hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His urine was brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This $10 million lawsuit names the university, the national fraternity, and 13 individual members. It is proof that dangerous, degrading hazing is not a relic of the past; it is a present and active threat on Texas campuses.

For families in Arp, Smith County, and across East Texas, this case hits close to home. Your children may attend schools minutes away or hours across the state. The organizations behind these incidents are often the same—national fraternities and sororities with chapters everywhere. This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing looks like, the Texas laws that govern it, the data we use to hold organizations accountable, and the practical steps you can take if your family is affected. You are not alone, and you have rights.

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).
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately.
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot all group chats, texts, and DMs. Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Save physical items.
  • Write down everything (who, what, when, where) while memory is fresh.
  • Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, or post details on social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like Today

Hazing is not just “rough initiation” or “boys will be boys.” Under Texas law, it is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. For families in Arp, understanding the modern forms is critical, as tactics have evolved to avoid detection.

Subtle Hazing often starts the process: mandatory “study blocks” that interfere with classes, being on-call 24/7 for errands, carrying degrading “pledge fanny packs,” or social isolation from non-members. This establishes power imbalance.

Harassment Hazing escalates: sleep deprivation with 3 AM wake-up calls, forced consumption of disgusting food (like milk and peppercorns until vomiting), verbal abuse, and extreme, punitive calisthenics. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” and forced through workouts of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.

Violent Hazing has the highest risk of injury or death: forced alcohol consumption during “Big/Little” nights, paddling or beatings, dangerous physical tests, sexualized acts, and kidnapping. This is where hospitalization and tragedy occur, as with Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis.

Today, hazing is digitally coordinated through GroupMe, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, with evidence often deleted. It frequently moves off-campus to Airbnbs or private homes to avoid university oversight. It exists not only in fraternities but in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups, and marching bands. If your child feels coerced, endangered, or humiliated to belong, it is hazing.

Texas Hazing Law and Your Family’s Rights

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, found in the Education Code, Chapter 37. Understanding this framework is essential for Smith County families seeking accountability.

The Legal Definition (Texas Education Code § 37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Consent is not a defense. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law recognizes the power dynamics at play.

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury.
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing or for retaliating against someone who reports.

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.

Immunity for Reporting (§ 37.154): A person who in good faith reports hazing or calls for emergency medical help is immune from civil or criminal liability related to that report. This “Good Samaritan” protection is crucial—it saves lives.

Civil Lawsuits for Damages: Separate from criminal charges, victims and families can file civil lawsuits to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. These suits can target individual members, the local chapter, the national headquarters, and sometimes the university.

The National Hazing Crisis: Lessons for Texas Families

The Leonel Bermudez case at UH is not an anomaly. It is part of a national pattern that reveals how predictable and preventable these tragedies are. Understanding these cases shows Smith County families that holding powerful organizations accountable is possible.

Alcohol Hazing Deaths: A Repeated Script

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. The family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. His case led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died after a bid acceptance night with extreme drinking; his death led to major reforms in Pennsylvania law.

Severe Physical and Psychological Hazing

• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking; his family settled with 22 defendants.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.

These national patterns matter because the same fraternities operate at Texas schools. When a national organization has seen deaths at other chapters, it cannot claim ignorance when the same dangerous “traditions” surface at UH, Texas A&M, or UT. This “pattern evidence” is a powerful tool in civil litigation to prove negligence and foreseeability.

The Texas Hazing Landscape: Where Arp Families Send Their Kids

Parents in Arp and Smith County often have children at a mix of local universities and major statewide institutions. Hazing risks exist across this spectrum.

For Smith County and East Texas Families: Local and Regional Campuses
Your student may attend a campus close to home, where Greek life and campus organizations are still active. Key local institutions include:

• The University of Texas at Tyler (Smith County): Home to fraternities and sororities under UT Tyler’s student life policies.
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (Hunt County): A growing Greek community north of the Metroplex.
• Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches County): A historic Greek system with a significant presence on campus.
• Tyler Junior College (Smith County): While primarily commuter, student organizations and athletic teams exist.

Major Texas Universities: Common Destinations for Arp Students
Many Smith County students also head to the state’s flagship universities, which have large, complex Greek ecosystems:

• University of Houston (UH): The site of the active Leonel Bermudez/Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. UH has a large, diverse Greek community with Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, NPHC, and Multicultural chapters.
• Texas A&M University: Notorious for high-profile cases in both fraternities (SAE chemical burns) and the Corps of Cadets (“roasted pig” binding allegations).
• University of Texas at Austin: Maintains a public hazing violations log, showing repeated sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced calisthenics and alcohol hazing.
• Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU): Private institutions with active Greek life and their own hazing incident histories.

The legal jurisdiction for a case typically lies in the county where the hazing occurred or where the defendant organization resides. For example, a case at UT Tyler would involve Smith County courts, while a case at UH involves Harris County. We are equipped to handle cases across Texas.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Data-Driven View

Hazing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It occurs within structured organizations that often have legal and financial footprints. At Attorney911, we use the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records—to map the entire ecosystem behind a fraternity or sorority. This investigative depth is what separates us.

The Texas Greek Organizational Backbone (IRS Data)
Public IRS filings (B83 classifications) reveal over 125 registered Greek organizations in Texas. These are not just social clubs; they are legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), mailing addresses, and often, insurance policies. For Smith County families, this means the organization responsible may have assets and a paper trail we can follow.

• Example Entities from Public Records:
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 352335400 – 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799 (IRS B83 filing)
  • Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter – EIN 300517788 – 316 E Lakewood St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 (IRS B83 filing)
  • Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN 273662583 – 1416 Sleepy Hollow Dr, Lufkin, TX 75904 (IRS B83 filing)
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
  • Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)

Connecting Nationals to Local Chapters
National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Alpha have multiple entities in Texas: national headquarters, regional offices, alumni housing corporations, and chapter-specific corporations. Our data engine tracks these connections. In the Bermudez lawsuit, we named not only the UH chapter and its members but also the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters and the local Beta Nu housing corporation. This comprehensive approach ensures no liable entity hides behind another.

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

When your family decides to pursue accountability, building a strong case requires immediate action and strategic expertise. Here is what we do for our clients.

Critical Evidence We Preserve and Analyze

1. Digital Evidence: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), text messages, social media posts (Instagram stories, Snapchats), and emails. We use digital forensics to recover deleted content.
2. Medical Documentation: ER reports, hospitalization records, lab tests (like creatine kinase levels for rhabdomyolysis), and psychological evaluations for PTSD or trauma.
3. Institutional Records: Prior complaints and disciplinary records from the university. Risk management files and incident reports from the national fraternity/sorority headquarters.
4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders who can corroborate the events.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics
We know how organizations fight back because Mr. Lupe Peña spent years on the defense side. We anticipate and counter their strategies:

• “The Victim Consented”: Texas law explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. We demonstrate the coercive environment.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use national pattern evidence to show the national organization knew or should have known these risks existed.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and foreseeability, not just property lines. Retreats and private houses don’t provide immunity.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Insurers often try to deny claims. Our insider knowledge of how insurance companies value and defend claims is a decisive advantage.

Damages: What Families Can Recover
Civil lawsuits seek to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, costs of therapy, and diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In tragic cases, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or malice, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future conduct.

A Practical Guide for Arp Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

• Watch For: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), sudden secrecy about group activities, constant phone monitoring for group chats, declining grades.
• If You Suspect Hazing: Talk to your child calmly and supportively. If there is injury, seek medical care immediately. Help them preserve all digital evidence (take screenshots together). Contact a lawyer before confronting the organization or making detailed statements to the university.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Ask Yourself: Am I being pressured? Is this dangerous or degrading? Would I do this if I could freely say no? If the answer is yes, it’s hazing.
• Your Safety Comes First: In an emergency, call 911. Texas law protects those who call for help. You can resign from the organization at any time—send an email for documentation.
• Preserve Evidence: Do not delete texts or group chats. Take photos of injuries. Write down names, dates, and details.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: This can look like a cover-up and destroys your strongest proof.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their legal defense and allows evidence to be destroyed.
3. Signing University Paperwork Without Counsel: You may unintentionally waive your rights.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys will scour your accounts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we sue a university in Texas? Yes, depending on the facts. Public universities have some immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence. Private universities like Baylor and SMU have fewer protections.
• How long do we have to file a lawsuit? Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but specific rules can affect this. Do not delay.
• Will our name be public? Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy throughout the process.

Why Attorney911 for Your Family’s Hazing Case

When your family in Arp is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the profound human cost and the complex legal battlefield. The Manginello Law Firm, operating as Attorney911, brings a unique combination of insider knowledge, proven litigation strength, and deep Texas roots to these cases.

Our Core Advantages in Hazing Litigation:

1. Active, High-Stakes Texas Case Experience: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively litigating it. We represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We know the current tactics, defenses, and courtroom strategies because we are using them right now in Harris County.

2. Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows precisely how fraternity and university insurance companies will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This is an invaluable, non-negotiable advantage when seeking full accountability.

3. Proven Experience Against Massive Institutions (Mr. Ralph Manginello): We have taken on billion-dollar defendants before. Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. National fraternities and major universities have deep pockets and aggressive lawyers. We are not intimidated; we are prepared with federal court experience and a record of success in complex, multi-defendant cases.

4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We invest in investigation. Our proprietary database tracks over 1,400 Greek organizations across Texas, using IRS data, university records, and public filings. We don’t start from scratch; we start with intelligence. We can identify the housing corporation, the alumni association, and the national headquarters that may share liability.

5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Mr. Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing investigations. We can expertly advise families and witnesses navigating parallel criminal and civil proceedings, ensuring one strategy supports the other.

6. A Commitment to Your Family’s Well-Being: We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ because we provide immediate, aggressive help. But we are also compassionate guides through one of the most difficult experiences a family can face. We fight not just for compensation, but for answers, accountability, and change so other families in Smith County and beyond are spared this pain.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at any Texas campus, the path forward begins with a conversation. We offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations to families in Arp and across Texas.

In your consultation with us, you can expect to:

• Tell your story to an attorney who will listen with compassion and without judgment.
• Receive an honest, straightforward analysis of the legal options available to you.
• Learn about the investigation process and how we build a case.
• Get clear answers about how we work on a contingency fee basis—there is no cost to you unless we win your case.
• Feel no pressure to make an immediate decision. We will provide the information you need to choose the best path for your family.

You do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The same organizations operate across Texas, and so does our commitment to holding them accountable.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Local: (713) 528-9070
24/7 Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
Online: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

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 to discuss your situation. The firm is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Principal office in Houston, Texas.