A Complete Guide to Hazing, Greek Life, and Legal Rights for Families in Richland Hills, Texas

As parents in Richland Hills, you send your children off to college with hope and pride. You imagine them making lifelong friends, joining organizations that build character, and succeeding in their studies. But what happens when the very groups meant to build community instead cause harm? When a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or athletic team crosses the line from tradition into abuse, the results can be catastrophic—physically, emotionally, and legally.

Right now, in Houston, our firm is actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are severe: forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, sleep deprivation, and humiliation, including carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack.” This conduct led to Leonel developing rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He was hospitalized for four days and faces ongoing health risks. This is not a story from years ago; this is an active, multi-million dollar lawsuit happening right now in Texas, and it shows exactly how quickly hazing can turn dangerous.

This guide is for you—the parents and families in Richland Hills, Tarrant County, and across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, the Texas laws that protect your children, the sobering national history of fraternity and sorority misconduct, and the specific risks at universities where Richland Hills students often enroll. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and to show you that if the unthinkable happens, you are not alone. Experienced legal help is available.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Steps for Richland Hills Families

If your child is in danger or severely injured RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for emergency medical help.
• Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the First 48 Hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” have them evaluated by a doctor. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (seen in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case) or internal injuries may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It Disappears:
   • Screenshot every relevant group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text, and social media message.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Place a common object like a coin next to bruises for scale.
   • Save physical items: torn clothing, paddles, alcohol bottles, or receipts.
   • Write Down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, and specific acts—while their memory is fresh.
3. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details about the incident on public social media.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Within 24-48 Hours. Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities and national organizations move fast to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this crisis, preserve critical evidence, and protect your child’s rights from the start.

Understanding the Greek Ecosystem Serving Richland Hills Families

Richland Hills is part of the vibrant and extensive Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. According to public data from sources like the IRS and Cause IQ, this metro is home to over 500 Greek-letter organizations, including undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and honor societies. This complex network means that when a student from Richland Hills joins a fraternity at Texas A&M or a sorority at UT Austin, they are often connecting with a local chapter that is part of a much larger, state-wide and national system with its own history, policies, and, unfortunately, sometimes its own history of risk.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Relevant to Richland Hills

To demonstrate the real, tangible entities behind the Greek letters, our firm maintains a comprehensive database built from public records. Below is a sample of the kinds of organizations we track. This is not an accusation of wrongdoing, but a snapshot of the structured ecosystem that exists.

Greek Organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro (Examples from Public Filings):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061 (IRS EIN: 741380362)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter – Dallas, TX 75241-4331 (IRS EIN: 521278573)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – Psi Zeta Chapter – Fort Worth, TX 76105-8168 (IRS EIN: 521345182)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Epsilon Mu Chapter – Fort Worth, TX 76129 (IRS EIN: 756203190)
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter – Dallas, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

Major Statewide & National Brands with Texas Presence (IRS & Cause IQ Overlap):

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity: EIN 746064445 (Nederland, TX) – Also listed in Houston metro data. This is the national organization involved in the Stone Foltz fatal hazing case at Bowling Green.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority: EIN 364091267 (Waco, TX) – Also listed in Houston and Beaumont metro data.
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi: Multiple Texas chapters (EINs including 263170920, 352335400) – Academic honor society with chapters statewide.

This data matters because when harm occurs, liability rarely rests with just a few students. There may be a local house corporation that owns the property, an alumni board that oversees activities, and a national headquarters that sets—and is supposed to enforce—policy. Our ability to immediately identify these entities gives Richland Hills families a significant advantage in seeking full accountability.

Where Richland Hills Families Send Their Kids: Campus Connections

Students from Richland Hills attend universities across Texas. Many stay close to home in the DFW metro, while others head to major flagship schools. Each of these campuses has its own Greek life landscape and history of addressing hazing.

North Texas & DFW Area Campuses:

• University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, Denton County
• Texas Christian University (TCU) – Fort Worth, Tarrant County
• The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) – Arlington, Tarrant County
• Texas Woman’s University (TWU) – Denton, Denton County
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, Dallas County

Major Texas Universities Commonly Attended:

• Texas A&M University – College Station, Brazos County
• The University of Texas at Austin (UT) – Austin, Travis County
• University of Houston (UH) – Houston, Harris County
• Baylor University – Waco, McLennan County
• Texas Tech University – Lubbock, Lubbock County

The reality for parents is that hazing is not confined to one school or one type of group. Incidents have been documented at large public flagships, private religious institutions, and everything in between. The common thread is a toxic combination of tradition, power imbalance, and secrecy.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “boys will be boys” roughhousing. It has evolved into systematic abuse that is often digitally coordinated and psychologically manipulative.

Modern Hazing Methods Include:

• Digital Coercion: 24/7 group chat demands, mandatory location sharing, social media humiliation, and threats delivered via text or Snapchat.
• “Optional” But Mandatory Activities: Events framed as voluntary, but with clear social consequences for not participating.
• Disguised Abuse: Extreme physical exhaustion presented as “workouts” or “conditioning.” Forced binge drinking disguised as “big brother/little brother bonding.”
• Off-Campus Retreats: Moving the most severe acts to rented houses, Airbnbs, or remote properties to avoid campus oversight.

The Leonel Bermudez case at UH is a tragic textbook example. His hazing included forced calisthenics (100+ push-ups, 500 squats), being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. This wasn’t random bullying; it was a scheduled, organized series of abuses conducted by multiple members over weeks.

Texas Law & Legal Liability: What Richland Hills Parents Need to Know

Texas has specific laws against hazing, found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37.

Key Provisions of Texas Hazing Law:

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with an organization.
• Criminal Penalties: It is a crime. Penalties range from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for the perpetrators. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its official recognition.
• Immunity for Reporters: Individuals who report hazing in good faith or seek medical help in an emergency are generally protected from disciplinary action or prosecution related to that reporting.

Civil Lawsuits for Damages:
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim and their family to recover compensation for their profound losses. In a civil hazing case, we can pursue claims against:

• The individual students who planned and carried out the acts.
• The local chapter as an entity.
• The national fraternity or sorority headquarters for negligent supervision and failure to enforce its own policies.
• The university for negligent oversight, if it knew or should have known about dangerous practices.
• Property owners and landlords of off-campus houses where hazing occurred.

The goal is to secure compensation for medical bills, future care, therapy, pain and suffering, and lost educational opportunities. In wrongful death cases, we seek justice for the family’s unimaginable loss.

Building a Winning Case: The Attorney911 Approach

When you choose our firm, you are not just getting a lawyer; you are getting a dedicated investigative and legal team with a proven strategy.

1. The Data & Intelligence Advantage:
We begin with our proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine. Before we even send a demand letter, we have often identified the full network of potentially liable entities—from the local chapter president to the national housing corporation in another state. This deep, data-driven understanding prevents organizations from hiding behind complex structures.

2. Evidence Preservation & Investigation:
We act with urgency to secure evidence before it vanishes. This includes:

• Digital Forensics: Working with experts to recover deleted group chats, texts, and social media posts.
• Document Discovery: Subpoenaing national fraternity records for prior incident reports, risk management files, and internal communications about the chapter.
• Witness Interviews: Speaking with other pledges, former members, and bystanders who may provide critical testimony.
• Medical Expert Collaboration: Partnering with physicians to fully document the link between the hazing and your child’s injuries, whether physical (like kidney damage) or psychological (like PTSD).

3. Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics:
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for large national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We use this insider knowledge to anticipate their moves, counter lowball settlement offers, and fight coverage exclusions they try to invoke.

4. Experience with Billion-Dollar Defendants:
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced the deepest-pocketed, most aggressive institutional defendants before. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams. This experience is critical when building a case that may involve federal laws like Title IX or go into federal court.

The active UH Pi Kappa Phi case exemplifies this approach. We are not just suing the students; we have named the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, its local housing corporation, and 13 individual members. This comprehensive strategy is designed to uncover the full truth and maximize accountability.

Practical Guide for Richland Hills Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs of Hazing

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities or a required “pledge packet.”
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or uncharacteristic anger.
• Financial pressure for unexplained “fines” or mandatory purchases.

For Students: Is This Hazing?
Ask yourself: Is this activity secret? Would I do this if I truly had a free choice without social consequences? Is it degrading, dangerous, or illegal? If the answer is yes, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not legally valid in Texas.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

• Deleting Evidence: Do not let your child clear their phone history.
• Confronting the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
• Signing University Paperwork Unreviewed: Schools may offer quick “resolutions” that waive your right to sue.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense lawyers scour accounts for inconsistencies.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitations apply.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911?

We are a Texas-based complex litigation firm with a mission to hold powerful institutions accountable. For Richland Hills families facing the nightmare of hazing, we offer:

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists; we are in the fight right now with the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case.
• A Former Insurance Defense Attorney: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) knows the other side’s playbook.
• BP Texas City Explosion Experience: We have litigated against some of the world’s largest corporations.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families with comfort and clarity.
• Contingency Fee Basis: You pay nothing unless we win your case. The consultation is always free.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in Richland Hills, North Richland Hills, Fort Worth, or anywhere in Texas and suspect your child has been hazed, time is of the essence. We offer a compassionate, no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review the facts, and explain your legal options.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se habla Español.

Let us help you secure the justice, accountability, and recovery your family deserves.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston report: 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: 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 phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas 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

Main Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consultation with an attorney is required to address your specific situation. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this article.