University Hazing in Texas: A Complete Legal Guide for Families in City of Burton and Washington County

If you are a parent in City of Burton, Washington County, your worst fear might be receiving a call that your college student has been hurt. Not in a car accident or from an illness, but from intentional harm inflicted by the very organization they trusted to become part of a community. Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—and it shows exactly how quickly tradition can turn into tragedy.

In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died after brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are graphic: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. The result was rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine was brown. He was hospitalized for four days and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down, and the University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This is not an isolated incident in some faraway state. This happened at the University of Houston, a school where many Washington County families send their children. Hazing is a present and dangerous reality in Texas Greek life, Corps programs, athletics, and spirit groups. As Texas hazing lawyers who are actively litigating this high-stakes case, we created this guide to help families in City of Burton, Brenham, Chappell Hill, and across Washington County understand what hazing looks like today, what the law says, and what legal options exist when things go terribly wrong.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies, then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention. Preserve evidence: screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save physical items. Write down everything. Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post on social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate consultation.

Understanding the Greek Ecosystem Around Washington County and City of Burton

For families in our tight-knit Washington County community, it’s important to know the scale of the Greek organizational network that operates throughout Texas. These aren’t just social clubs; they are legal entities with insurance, property, and national affiliations. Using public records and our proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we track over 1,400 fraternity, sorority, and Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metropolitan areas.

Washington County is part of the greater Bryan-College Station and Houston regions. The Greek life that touches City of Burton families extends through these major hubs. For example, our data shows at least 188 Greek organizations in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area and 42 in the College Station-Bryan metro. These entities include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and national headquarters—all potential parties in a hazing lawsuit.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations from Public Records:

To demonstrate the depth of our investigative resources, here are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations (from IRS B83 filings and Cause IQ metro data) that represent the types of entities we investigate in hazing cases:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035. (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 36-4091267, Waco, TX 76710. (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147. (IRS B83 Filing)
• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, 12650 N Beach St, Fort Worth, TX 76244. (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Houston Alumnae, Houston, TX. (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp., Austin, TX (University of Texas chapter house corporation). (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799. (IRS B83 Filing – multiple campus chapters exist)

These organizations, and hundreds like them, form a complex web. When hazing occurs, identifying every legally responsible entity—from the local chapter and its officers to the national headquarters and its housing corporation—is critical to securing full accountability and compensation.

Where City of Burton and Washington County Families Send Their Children to College

The students from our local schools—Burton High School, Brenham High School, and others—often pursue higher education at a mix of regional colleges and major state universities. As parents, your child’s campus environment matters. Based on Texas university data and common enrollment patterns, Washington County students frequently attend:

Local & Regional Campuses:

• Blinn College (Brenham Campus): A primary feeder school with student organizations and clubs.
• Sam Houston State University (Huntsville): Approximately 90 minutes away, with active Greek life and over 200 student organizations.
• Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View): A historically Black university with a strong National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) presence.
• University of Houston-Victoria (Victoria): Part of the UH System, offering a more intimate campus setting.

Major Texas University Hubs (Common Destinations):

• Texas A&M University (College Station): The flagship of the A&M System, with an immense Greek life community and the renowned Corps of Cadets.
• University of Texas at Austin (UT): A flagship campus with one of the largest and most historic Greek systems in the state.
• University of Houston (UH): A major urban research university where the Leonel Bermudez case is unfolding.
• Baylor University (Waco): A private Christian university with significant Greek life.
• Texas State University (San Marcos): One of the largest universities in Texas, with robust Greek participation.

The transition from our rural community to these large campuses can be jarring. The pressure to belong can make students vulnerable, and the institutional power of fraternities, sororities, and elite groups can be overwhelming.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Meet Texas Campuses

The fraternity letters on a sweatshirt represent a national brand with a history—and often, a track record. The same national organizations involved in deadly hazing incidents across the country have chapters at the very Texas schools Washington County students attend. This pattern is key to establishing liability.

Let’s take Pi Kappa Phi, the fraternity in our UH lawsuit. Their national history includes the 2017 death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night—a similar pattern of forced consumption. Now, we see nearly identical brutal physical hazing at UH. This isn’t coincidence; it’s a pattern of foreseeable risk.

Consider these national organization patterns present at Texas schools:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Responsible for the alcohol-poisoning death of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University (2021), leading to a $10 million settlement.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced a lawsuit at Texas A&M where pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
• Phi Delta Theta: Involved in the alcohol-poisoning death of Max Gruver at LSU (2017), which led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Beta Theta Pi: The fraternity where Timothy Piazza died at Penn State (2017) after a night of forced drinking, captured on chapter house cameras.

When a Washington County student is hazed at Texas A&M, UT, or UH, the national organization’s knowledge of prior incidents across the country becomes powerful evidence. It shows they knew the risks and failed to implement adequate prevention or supervision at their Texas chapters.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: Explained for Washington County Families

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, found in the Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding these statutes is the first step to understanding your family’s rights.

What Texas Law Defines as Hazing:
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with any organization. The act must endanger the student’s mental or physical health or safety. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Forced consumption of alcohol, food, drugs, or other substances.
• Physical brutality like whipping, beating, or excessive calisthenics.
• Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, or confinement.
• Any activity that induces mental stress, humiliation, or intimidation.

Key Provisions for Families:

• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for the perpetrators. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion in these settings.
• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it becomes a state jail felony. Individuals who fail to report hazing or retaliate against reporters can also face charges.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or knew about the hazing and failed to take action.
• Immunity for Reporters (Sec. 37.154): A person who in good faith reports hazing is immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911.

Civil Liability Beyond Criminal Charges:
A criminal case is brought by the state. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim and family to seek compensation and accountability. Potentially liable parties in a civil hazing case include:

1. The individual students who planned, facilitated, or carried out the acts.
2. The local chapter as an entity.
3. The national fraternity/sorority headquarters for negligent supervision, training, and failure to curb known dangerous traditions.
4. The university for negligent oversight, especially if they had prior knowledge of issues with that group.
5. Property owners (housing corporations, landlords) of where the hazing occurred.

For public universities like Texas A&M or UT, “sovereign immunity” can be a hurdle, but exceptions exist for gross negligence or when suing individuals in their personal capacity.

Building a Winning Case: Attorney911’s Data-Driven, Experience-Backed Approach

At The Manginello Law Firm, we don’t just take a statement and file a claim. We build a forensic, institution-level case designed to maximize accountability. Our active litigation in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is a blueprint for how we fight for Texas families.

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine in Action:
When we take a case, we immediately deploy our proprietary database—the same one that identified 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with EINs and addresses. We map the entire ecosystem behind the chapter involved. In the UH case, this meant identifying not just the undergraduate members, but the Beta Nu housing corporation, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, and the alumni network. This ensures we pursue every source of insurance coverage and assets.

Evidence Collection for the Digital Age:
Hazing in 2025 is coordinated and documented on phones. Critical evidence includes:

• Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage): Planning, boasting, and coordination of hazing events.
• Social Media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok): Photos/videos of acts, locations, and participants.
• Deleted Data: Our digital forensics experts can often recover “disappearing” messages.
• University Records: Prior disciplinary history of the group via public records requests.
• Medical Records: Documenting the full extent of physical and psychological injuries.

Our Unique Legal Firepower:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and lowball settlements. We know their playbook because we used to run it. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.
• Experience Against Giant Institutions: 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 elite university legal teams. We’ve done this before. Learn about Ralph’s complex litigation experience.
• 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 adeptly advise families and witnesses navigating both systems.
• No Fee Unless We Win: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and our fees come only from a successful settlement or verdict. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Practical Steps for Parents & Students in Washington County: What To Do Now

If You Suspect Your Child Is Being Hazed:

1. Talk Calmly and Listen: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve heard some fraternities/sororities have intense traditions. Has anything made you uncomfortable?” Reassure them your primary concern is their safety.
2. Look for Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, withdrawal from family/friends, sudden secrecy about group activities, personality changes (anxiety, depression), constant texting/phone monitoring.
3. Preserve Evidence Immediately: If they share texts or photos, screenshot them. Encourage them not to delete anything.

If Hazing Has Already Occurred:

1. Seek Medical Care: This documents injuries and prioritizes health. Tell the doctor exactly what happened for the record.
2. Report to Authorities: This can include campus police, the Dean of Students Office, and local law enforcement. Reporting creates an official record.
3. Document Everything: Create a timeline. Take photos of injuries. Save all communications. Write down names of witnesses.
4. Consult a Hazing Attorney BEFORE Talking to Insurers or Signing Anything: The university or fraternity’s insurance company may contact you quickly with a settlement offer. Do not speak to them or sign anything without legal counsel. See common client mistakes that can hurt a case.
5. Call Us: Contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential case evaluation. We will help you understand your options and preserve crucial evidence before it’s lost. Learn how to use your phone to document evidence.

FAQs for Washington County Families:

• “My child agreed to it. Do we still have a case?” YES. Texas law explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Coercion and power imbalance negate true consent.
• “Can we sue the university?” Potentially, yes. While public universities have some legal protections, they can be held liable for negligent supervision, especially if they were aware of prior issues and failed to act.
• “How long do we have to take action?” The statute of limitations for personal injury in Texas is generally two years from the date of injury, but exceptions and nuances exist. Do not wait. Watch our video on statutes of limitation.
• “Will this be public? I don’t want my child’s name in the news.” Most civil cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy and can often negotiate sealed settlements and protective orders.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm/Attorney911?

Families in City of Burton and Washington County deserve a law firm that combines local understanding with relentless, sophisticated advocacy. We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are institutional liability specialists who have taken on some of the biggest defendants in the country.

We are currently leading the charge in the Leonel Bermudez hazing case against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the fight right now. We understand the playbooks of national fraternities and university defense teams because we are actively litigating against them.

Our firm brings together a unique combination of skills essential for hazing cases: Mr. Peña’s insider knowledge of insurance defense tactics, Ralph Manginello’s experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation against corporations, and a deep investigative engine built on real Texas data.

If your child has been victimized by hazing at any Texas campus—from Texas A&M to UT, from UH to Baylor, or any college in between—you do not have to face this alone.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Let us listen to your story, explain your legal rights under Texas law, and help you secure the justice and accountability your family deserves. We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Se habla Español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly at lupe@atty911.com for assistance in Spanish.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

1. Click2Houston (KPRC 2) Coverage: 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/
2. ABC13 (KTRK) Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
3. Hoodline Summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:
4. Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
5. Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
6. Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
7. How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:
8. The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: https://attorney911.com

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 law. Please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a consultation regarding your specific situation.