# A Texas Family’s Guide to Hazing Laws, Fraternity Accountability & Campus Safety in Lindale
You sent your child to a Texas university with pride, hoping they’d find community, friendships, and a bright future. Then the phone call comes. They’re hurt. They’re scared. They’re telling a story that sounds like a nightmare: forced drinking, violent workouts, brutal humiliation. You feel a mix of anger, confusion, and fear. How could this happen? Who is responsible? What are your rights as a parent in Lindale, Smith County, and across East Texas?
You are not alone, and you are not powerless. Right now, in a Harris County courtroom, a case is unfolding that shows exactly how serious hazing has become in Texas and how families can fight back. Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 fraternity leaders. The allegations are stomach-churning: being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to consume milk and hot dogs until vomiting, hog-tying, and extreme physical abuse that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. This is not a story from decades past; this is an active Attorney911 lawsuit filed in late 2025.
This guide is for you—parents and families in Lindale, Tyler, and all of Smith County—whether your child attends the nearby University of Texas at Tyler, commutes to a regional campus, or studies at a major hub like UH, Texas A&M, or UT Austin. We will arm you with the facts: what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law works, the sobering history of national fraternities on our campuses, and the step-by-step process of seeking accountability and justice. Your family’s safety and your child’s future are worth fighting for.
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 (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save physical items. Do not delete anything.
- Write down everything your child tells you (who, what, when, where).
- Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university, or post details on social media.
- Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas
Gone are the days of harmless pranks. Modern hazing is a calculated spectrum of abuse designed to assert control, often disguised as “tradition” or “brotherhood.” For Lindale families, understanding this evolution is critical to recognizing the warning signs.
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. “Consent” is not a defense under Texas law when power imbalances and coercion are at play.
Today’s hazing typically falls into three escalating tiers:
- Subtle Hazing: Normalizes power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (24/7 designated driving, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation, being given a derogatory nickname, mandatory “study blocks” that interfere with sleep, and constant digital monitoring via group chats.
- Harassment Hazing: Causes emotional or physical discomfort. This involves sleep deprivation, verbal abuse and humiliation, forced consumption of unpleasant foods (like the hot dogs and peppercorns in the UH case), “optional” but socially mandatory events, and physical “smokings” (extreme calisthenics).
- Violent Hazing: Carries a high risk of injury or death. This is what we see in the most severe cases: forced alcohol consumption to the point of poisoning (the #1 cause of hazing deaths), physical beatings or paddling, sexualized assaults, exposure to extreme elements, and dangerous “rituals” like those alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.
The settings have also evolved. To avoid university oversight, hazing is pushed to off-campus houses, Airbnbs, and remote retreats. The evidence lives on smartphones—in deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat stories, and Instagram DMs—making digital preservation the first critical step for any family.
Law & Liability: Texas Rules and Institutional Responsibility
Texas takes a firm stance against hazing. The Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F, is your family’s legal backbone.
- Definition & Crime: Hazing is broadly defined as described above. It is a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
- Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§ 37.155) is explicit: a victim’s “agreement” to participate is irrelevant. Courts recognize that true consent cannot exist under peer pressure and threat of exclusion.
- Organizations Can Be Liable: Fraternities, sororities, and other groups can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition if they authorize hazing or if officers fail to report it.
- Good-Faith Reporting Protection: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to authorities are immune from civil or criminal liability stemming from that report. This is meant to encourage bystanders and victims to call for help.
Beyond State Law: The Federal Framework
The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) now requires colleges receiving federal aid to report incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. Furthermore, if hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered, providing another avenue for accountability.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?
A civil case seeks financial compensation and accountability. Potential defendants include:
- The Individuals who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
- The Local Chapter as an entity.
- The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters (crucial for their deep pockets and prior knowledge of risks).
- The University for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference to known dangers.
- Third Parties like landlords of unsafe properties or bars that illegally furnished alcohol.
The National Landscape: Why Past Cases Matter for Your Texas Case
The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They form a pattern of foreseeable conduct that national fraternities have long been aware of. When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M repeats these patterns, it strengthens the argument that the national organization failed to prevent a known danger.
- Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. Result: A $10 million settlement and criminal convictions.
- Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A pledge died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking, with help delayed for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges and a new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law.
- Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
- Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): A pledge suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants.
These cases prove that juries and courts will hold organizations financially and criminally responsible. They create a playbook of “what not to do” that national fraternities ignore at their peril—and at the peril of your child.
A Texas-Specific Focus: Where Lindale Families Send Their Kids
Lindale families are part of a vibrant educational network. Your children may attend The University of Texas at Tyler, right here in Smith County, or travel to major institutions across the state. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history.
The Greek Ecosystem Around Lindale & East Texas
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public IRS and organizational data, tracks over 1,400 Greek-related entities across 25 Texas metros. The Tyler metropolitan area, which includes Smith County, is part of this vast network. Greek life is not an isolated campus phenomenon; it is supported by a behind-the-scenes infrastructure of house corporations, alumni chapters, and national organizations—all of which can bear legal responsibility.
Public Records: Fraternity & Sorority Organizations Relevant to East Texas Families
To show the scale and depth of our investigative work, here is a sampling of the public records we maintain. These are not accusations, but illustrations of the real entities involved in Texas Greek life:
- Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (EIN: 352335400) – 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799. Recorded at the University of Texas at Tyler (IRS B83 filing).
- Texas College in Tyler hosts student life that may include Greek-affiliated activities.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN: 364091267) – 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710. This national sorority has undergraduate and alumnae chapters across Texas, including in nearby metros (Cause IQ metro listing).
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (EIN: 237279532) – PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446. A national NPHC fraternity with graduate and undergraduate chapters statewide (IRS B83 filing).
Statewide, our data shows 188 Greek organizations in the Houston metro, 154 in Austin, and 510 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. These organizations operate across campuses, meaning the fraternity that hazes at UH is often the same national brand with chapters at A&M, UT, and beyond.
Campus Spotlights for Lindale Families
1. The University of Texas at Tyler & East Texas Campuses
- For Lindale Families: UT Tyler is your local major public university. While its Greek community is different in scale from the state’s largest schools, the risks and legal principles are identical. Hazing can occur in any organization seeking to create hierarchy.
- Action for Parents: Familiarize yourself with UT Tyler’s student conduct policies. If an incident occurs, reporting channels include the Dean of Students and UT Tyler Police. Given the close-knit community, consulting an attorney early can help navigate local dynamics while preserving your rights.
2. The Major Texas Hubs: UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, SMU
Lindale students often aspire to and attend these flagship institutions. Their Greek systems are large, historic, and, as cases show, not immune to severe abuse.
- University of Houston (UH): The active Leonel Bermudez vs. Pi Kappa Phi case is the most serious current example. The allegations—rhabdomyolysis from forced workouts, simulated waterboarding, hog-tying—show the extreme end of the spectrum. UH’s IFC and Panhellenic councils host numerous chapters with national histories of hazing.
- Texas A&M University: Known for its Corps of Cadets and strong Greek life. It has faced serious lawsuits, including one where Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges alleged being doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Another lawsuit alleged degrading, sexualized hazing within the Corps of Cadets.
- University of Texas at Austin: Maintains a public Hazing Violations page, a transparency tool that also reveals patterns. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. This public record is invaluable evidence in a civil case.
- Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU): As private institutions, their processes differ but the liability risks are similar. Baylor has faced hazing investigations within its baseball team, while SMU has suspended chapters like Kappa Alpha Order for paddling and forced drinking incidents.
The common thread is that national organizations with known hazing histories operate on these campuses. A Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at UT is part of the same national organization held liable for the Stone Foltz death. That connection is a powerful element in building a case.
Building a Case with Attorney911: Data, Experience, and Strategy
When your family is in crisis, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need attorneys who understand the unique ecosystem of university Greek life, institutional cover-ups, and high-stakes insurance battles.
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine in Action
We don’t start from scratch. We maintain proprietary directories built from public records like IRS data and corporate filings. If your child is hazed by a fraternity at Texas A&M, we already know how to identify:
- The local chapter’s housing corporation (its legal entity that may hold insurance).
- The related alumni chapter and its officers.
- The national headquarters’ corporate structure.
This allows us to immediately target every potentially liable entity, preventing them from hiding behind bureaucratic walls.
The Attorney911 Advantage: Why We Win These Cases
- Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny your claim, lowball settlements, and exploit delays. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
- Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants (Ralph Manginello): Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by wealthy national fraternities or powerful universities. We know how to manage complex, document-intensive cases against opponents with unlimited legal budgets.
- Dual Criminal & Civil Expertise: With Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand both sides of a hazing case. We can adeptly advise families if criminal charges are filed and navigate the interplay between criminal and civil proceedings.
- Digital Evidence Mastery: We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted group chats, social media messages, and location data. In the modern age, the “brotherhood’s” digital footprint is often its undoing.
- A Network of Specialized Experts: We collaborate with medical experts to document injuries like rhabdomyolysis, psychologists to diagnose PTSD, economists to calculate lifetime damages, and Greek life culture experts to explain coercion and tradition.
What Recovery Can Involve
Every case is unique, but damages in hazing lawsuits can include:
- Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospital, therapy, future care), lost wages, and educational costs (withdrawn semesters).
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for pain and suffering, severe emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can seek funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
Our goal is to secure full accountability and a recovery that provides for your child’s healing and your family’s future.
Practical Guides & FAQs for Lindale Families
For Parents: Warning Signs and First Steps
Watch for:
- Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, fractures) or constant exhaustion.
- Drastic personality changes (withdrawal, anxiety, depression).
- Secretive behavior about organizational activities.
- Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
- Requests for large sums of money with vague explanations.
If you suspect hazing:
- Talk calmly with your child. Use open-ended questions: “Are you ever asked to do things that make you uncomfortable? Are you safe?”
- If they are injured, seek medical care immediately and tell the doctor it may be hazing-related.
- Preserve Evidence: Have them screenshot ALL relevant group messages (GroupMe, texts, Instagram DMs) and photograph injuries. Do not delete anything.
- Contact an attorney BEFORE reporting to the university or confronting the organization. We can help you navigate this to protect your child from retaliation and preserve legal leverage.
For Students: Your Rights and Safety
- You have the right to be safe. No “tradition” is worth your health, life, or dignity.
- You can leave. You have the legal right to quit any organization at any time.
- Texas law protects good-faith reporters. If you call 911 for someone in medical distress, you are generally protected from university discipline related to underage drinking in that emergency.
- Document everything secretly. Use your phone’s screenshot function. Save everything.
Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case
- Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats destroys your case. PRESERVE, DON’T DELETE.
- Confronting the Organization: This prompts them to lawyer up, destroy evidence, and circle the wagons.
- Signing University Papers: Never sign any “resolution” or “release” from a university without an attorney’s review. It may waive your right to sue.
- Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistencies can be used against you.
- Waiting Too Long: The Texas statute of limitations gives you generally two years to file a lawsuit, but evidence and memories fade fast. Act now.
Frequently Asked Questions
- “Can we sue the university?” Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some immunity, but exceptions exist, especially for gross negligence.
- “What if it happened off-campus?” Location does not limit liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible for activities they sponsor or know about.
- “Will this be public?” Most cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy throughout the process.
- “How much does it cost?” We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront; our fee is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay attorney’s fees.
Why Lindale Families Choose Attorney911
We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, known as Attorney911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We are a Texas firm with deep roots and a proven record in the most complex litigation. When hazing shatters a family’s trust, you need advocates who combine legal mastery with genuine compassion.
We are currently leading the fight in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit because we believe no family should endure what his has. We bring the same relentless dedication to every family we represent, whether in Lindale, Tyler, Houston, or anywhere else in Texas.
Our team includes:
- Ralph Manginello, with over 25 years of experience, federal court credentials, and a background taking on corporate giants.
- Mr. Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who now uses his insider knowledge to maximize recoveries for injured families. He is fluent in Spanish (Se habla Español).
We serve families statewide from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.
Your Path Forward Starts With a Confidential Conversation
If hazing has impacted your family, the time for action is now. Let us help you secure the answers, accountability, and recovery your child deserves.
Contact us today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options clearly, and help you plan the best path forward for your family. There is no pressure, and everything you tell us is held in strict confidence.
- Call Attorney911 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
- Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
- Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
- Website: https://attorney911.com
You sent your child to college to build a future. We are here to help protect it.
Plain Text Links to Key Resources
News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:
- Click2Houston (KPRC 2) – “‘Urine was brown’: Pledge sues over severe hazing at University of Houston’s shut down Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”
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 Eyewitness News (KTRK) – “Waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment: Lawsuit alleges abuse faced by injured pledge at UH’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
Attorney911 Educational Videos:
- Using your cellphone to document evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs - Understanding statutes of limitations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c - Client mistakes that can ruin a case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY - 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. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this article. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
