Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Groveton Families Seeking Answers and Accountability
As parents in the tight-knit community of Groveton, Texas, you’ve worked hard to provide opportunities for your children—including the chance to attend college and find their community. The thought that your child could be harmed in pursuit of that belonging is a nightmare. Right now, just a few hours away in Houston, a young man’s story is unfolding that proves this nightmare is real for Texas families. Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston and a pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, was allegedly subjected to months of brutal hazing that culminated in a life-threatening medical emergency. The details, as reported in a $10 million lawsuit we filed on his behalf in late 2025, are a stark reminder of the hidden dangers within some campus organizations.
We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, known as Attorney911. We represent Leonel Bermudez, and we are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for families across Texas, including right here in Groveton and Trinity County. This guide exists because you deserve to know the truth about hazing—what it really looks like in 2025, what the law says, and what happened at the universities where Groveton students often enroll. If you are worried about your child, you are not alone, and you have more power than you might think.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING EMERGENCY:
- If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911, then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
- Within the first 48 hours:
- Seek medical attention immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries or extreme fatigue.
- Preserve evidence BEFORE it disappears: Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items.
- Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, and specific acts.
- Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster, or let your child delete digital evidence.
- Contact our firm: Evidence vanishes quickly. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation to protect your child’s rights and begin building accountability.
1. Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes
Hazing is not a relic of the past or “just how things are done.” It is a modern, evolving form of coercion that exploits a young person’s desire to belong. For Groveton families with children at schools like Stephen F. Austin State University in nearby Nacogdoches, Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, or any Texas campus, understanding its real face is critical.
Today’s hazing often blends digital control with physical and psychological abuse. It includes 24/7 monitoring via group chats where pledges must respond instantly at all hours, forced consumption of dangerous amounts of alcohol or food until vomiting, and extreme physical “workouts” disguised as conditioning. In the Bermudez case at UH, allegations include being forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” enduring “waterboarding-like” hose spraying, and performing hundreds of squats and push-ups until he developed rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown that led to acute kidney failure and multi-day hospitalization. This is not “boys being boys”; it is organized, systematic abuse that can cause permanent harm.
2. Texas Law & Your Family’s Rights
Texas takes a firm stance against hazing under Education Code Chapter 37. The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group.
Key Provisions for Groveton Families:
- Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime. It ranges from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death, as alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.
- Consent is NOT a Defense: Even if your child felt pressured to “go along with it,” Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that consent does not excuse the behavior. The power imbalance and desire to belong are recognized by the courts.
- Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in a medical emergency, or who report hazing, are protected from university discipline and certain legal penalties related to the incident (like underage drinking) under “Good Samaritan” policies.
- Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or team itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its university recognition. This opens the door for civil liability as well.
A civil lawsuit, separate from any criminal case, is how families seek accountability and compensation for medical bills, ongoing therapy, pain and suffering, and educational disruption. These cases can hold responsible not only the individuals who performed the acts but also the local chapter, the national headquarters, the university, and the housing corporations that enabled or failed to stop the behavior.
3. The National Pattern: Why History Matters
The tragedy at UH is not an isolated event. National fraternities and sororities often have long, documented histories of similar incidents, which proves they knew or should have known the risks. This “pattern evidence” is crucial in court.
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): At Bowling Green State University (2021), pledge Stone Foltz died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family secured a $10 million settlement.
- Beta Theta Pi: At Penn State (2017), Timothy Piazza died after a night of forced drinking, leading to massive criminal charges and new Pennsylvania law.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced lawsuits across the country, including at Texas A&M where pledges alleged suffering chemical burns from being doused with cleaner.
- Phi Delta Theta: At LSU (2017), Max Gruver died during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute.
These national patterns matter for a Groveton family because the same organizations operating at Ohio or Louisiana campuses also have chapters at Texas schools. Their national headquarters cannot claim ignorance when the same dangerous “traditions” surface repeatedly.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Data That Drives Accountability
At Attorney911, we don’t rely on guesswork. We built and maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database that tracks over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This means when a family from Groveton comes to us, we already have a deep understanding of the organizational landscape behind the letters on your child’s campus.
This engine combines public records like IRS filings (which list house corporations and alumni chapters), university rosters, and metro-level data. For example, our data shows 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations in IRS records alone. This allows us to quickly identify every potentially liable entity—from the local chapter house corporation to the national alumni foundation—that may hold insurance or bear responsibility.
A Snapshot of Texas Greek Entities (From Public IRS B83 Filings):
- Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845
- Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter), EIN 47-5370943, Houston, TX 77204
- Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, Austin, TX 78705
- Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204
This is just a tiny sample. This data-driven approach ensures no responsible party hides behind bureaucratic layers.
5. Where Groveton Families Send Their Kids: A Campus Overview
Groveton students often attend a mix of regional and major Texas universities. Understanding the Greek ecosystems at these schools is vital.
Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches):
As the closest four-year university to Groveton, SFA has an active Greek life community. Our public records research shows Greek entities like the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity and the Chi Omega Fraternity Epsilon Zeta chapter operating in Nacogdoches. Parents should be aware of the university’s hazing policy and reporting channels through the Dean of Students’ office.
The Major Texas Hubs:
Many Groveton students also head to the state’s flagship institutions, where Greek life is large and complex.
- University of Houston (UH): The site of our active Bermudez lawsuit. The alleged hazing occurred at the Pi Kappa Phi house, an off-campus residence on Culmore Drive, and during workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. UH’s Greek system is vast, and the university has stated the alleged conduct is “deeply disturbing,” cooperating with law enforcement after the chapter was shut down. The case is a current example of the severe risks that exist.
- Texas A&M University: Home to a powerful Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, which has faced its own hazing allegations. A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading, sexualized hazing. Texas A&M families must be vigilant about both fraternity and Corps traditions.
- University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state, publicly listing sanctioned organizations. This public record can be a valuable tool for families investigating an incident.
- Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU): These private universities have significant Greek life. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for hazing in 2017. Baylor has faced hazing issues within its athletic programs.
6. Building a Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery
If hazing has harmed your child, taking strategic, immediate action is crucial. The goal is to preserve evidence, secure accountability, and obtain compensation for the profound damage done.
Critical Evidence We Look For:
- Digital Communications: Screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, Instagram, and text threads showing planning, boasting, or threats.
- Photos/Videos: Media from the events, even if shared as “jokes.”
- Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries (like rhabdomyolysis, kidney injury, fractures, PTSD) directly to the events.
- University Records: Prior complaints or disciplinary actions against the same group, obtained through discovery.
Our Strategic Advantages for Your Case:
- Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and undervalue claims. We know their playbook.
- Experience Against Giants: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or wealthy national fraternities. We’ve fought them before.
- Comprehensive Damages Analysis: We work with medical experts, life-care planners, and economists to fully document the cost of your child’s injuries—both the immediate medical bills and the long-term impact on their education, career, and wellbeing.
- Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring all Groveton families can access clear, confident legal counsel.
7. Practical Steps for Groveton Parents & Students
For Parents: Warning Signs
- Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
- Extreme, constant fatigue and sleep deprivation.
- Sudden secrecy or anxiety about organizational activities.
- Personality shifts: withdrawal, depression, or defensiveness.
- Constant, anxious phone monitoring of group chats.
For Students: Your Rights & Safety
- You can say NO. You have the legal right to leave any dangerous situation.
- Call 911 if anyone is in danger. Texas law and university policies protect good-faith reporters.
- Preserve evidence secretly: Take screenshots, photos of injuries, and notes on what happened.
- Talk to someone you trust: A parent, a counselor, the Dean of Students, or a lawyer like us. You do not have to handle this alone.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid:
- Deleting evidence to “move on” or avoid trouble.
- Confronting the organization directly, which triggers evidence destruction.
- Signing a quick settlement or university resolution agreement without legal advice.
- Posting details on social media, which can be used against you.
- Waiting to see what the university does while the statute of limitations ticks and evidence vanishes.
8. Why Groveton Families Choose Attorney911
We are not a generic personal injury firm. We are Texas-based complex litigation specialists who have chosen to focus on hazing cases because we see the profound need for experienced, aggressive advocacy against powerful institutions.
Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi is not just a case study; it’s our current fight. We are in the trenches right now, using every tool—from the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to Mr. Peña’s insurance insights—to seek justice. We understand the unique culture of Texas universities, the dynamics of Greek life, and the devastating ripple effects hazing has on families like yours in Groveton, Trinity County, and across the state.
Take the Next Step: Confidential Consultation
If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas college or university, from SFA to UT, time is your most important asset. Evidence disappears, witnesses become reluctant, and deadlines pass.
We offer a free, completely confidential consultation to listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and without pressure. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
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: Mr. Lupe Peña provides full legal services in Spanish.
You trusted a university and an organization with your child’s safety. If that trust was broken, let us help you demand answers, secure accountability, and work toward a future where no student from Groveton has to endure what Leonel Bermudez did.
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 have a legal concern, please contact us or another qualified attorney for advice on your individual situation.
