A Texas Hazing Law Guide for Beasley, Fort Bend County, TX Families: Holding Fraternities, Sororities & Universities Accountable
For parents in Beasley, Fort Bend County, the pride and hope you feel as your child leaves for college can turn to terror in an instant. The phone call no parent wants to receive often starts with, “Mom, Dad… something happened at the fraternity house,” or a university official stating, “Your child has been hospitalized.” In communities across Fort Bend County—from Beasley to Richmond to Sugar Land—families trust Texas universities to provide a safe environment for learning and growth. Too often, that trust is shattered by a culture of brutal hazing hidden behind letters, tradition, and institutional silence.
Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston (UH), the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members of its Beta Nu chapter. As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, this $10 million lawsuit alleges a fall 2025 pledge period of sustained torture: forced consumption of food until vomiting, hours of extreme calisthenics, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a humiliating “pledge fanny pack.” The abuse led to a medical catastrophe: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring a four-day hospitalization. This is happening here in our state, at a major public university. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere your child pursues their education.
This guide is for you—the parents, family members, and students in Beasley and across Fort Bend County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws designed to stop it, the national patterns that predict tragedy, and what you can do if your family becomes part of this devastating statistic. We are The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911, and we bring a unique, data-driven approach to fighting for hazing victims and their families.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING EMERGENCY
If your child is in danger or seriously injured RIGHT NOW:
- Call 911 for immediate medical help.
- Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.
- Preserve Evidence: Before anything is deleted, screenshot group chats (GroupMe, iMessage), photograph injuries, and save any physical objects involved. We have a video guide on using your phone to document evidence.
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 on public social media.
1. The Modern Reality of Hazing: Beyond “Boys Will Be Boys”
Hazing in 2025 is not a simple prank or rite of passage. It is a calculated system of coercion, degradation, and control that exploits a young person’s desire for belonging. It occurs in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The tactics have evolved, often disguised as “team building” or “tradition.”
For Beasley parents, warning signs may include:
- Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, sprains) or extreme, constant fatigue.
- Drastic personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or secrecy.
- Being “on call” 24/7 for errands, driving, or mandatory late-night “meetings.”
- Financial drains for unexplained “fines,” alcohol purchases, or gifts for older members.
- Digital control: Constant, anxiety-inducing group chat demands and location tracking.
The hazing alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case is a textbook example of this escalation: from forced servitude and humiliation (the “pledge fanny pack”) to psychologically terrifying acts (simulated waterboarding) to violently dangerous physical abuse (workouts causing kidney failure).
2. Texas Law & Legal Liability: Your Child’s Rights in Fort Bend County Courts
Texas has clear statutes against hazing, but understanding how they translate to real accountability is critical for Beasley families.
Criminal Hazing (Texas Education Code, Chapter 37):
- Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
- Key Provisions:
- Consent is NOT a defense. It doesn’t matter if your child “agreed” to participate.
- Location doesn’t matter. Hazing at an off-campus house, an Airbnb, or a park is still illegal.
- Penalties: Can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly what is alleged in the Bermudez case with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
- Immunity for Reporting: Texas law provides protections for those who report hazing in good faith or seek medical help in an emergency.
Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Compensation
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit, which we file on behalf of victims, seeks to recover damages and force systemic change. Potentially liable parties in a hazing case include:
- The Individuals Who Participated: Members who planned, executed, or encouraged the hazing.
- The Local Chapter: As an organization that sanctioned or allowed the conduct.
- The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce their own policies, or act on known patterns of abuse. Pi Kappa Phi nationals are a defendant in our UH lawsuit.
- The University: For negligent supervision, failing to respond to prior warnings, or violating duties under Title IX or the Clery Act. The University of Houston System is a named defendant.
- Housing Corporations & Property Owners: Entities that own or control the premises where hazing occurred.
3. A National Pattern of Tragedy: Why History Repeats Itself at Texas Schools
The Bermudez case is not an isolated incident. It fits a decades-long, national pattern of preventable tragedies involving the same national organizations present on Texas campuses. For Beasley families, this history is critical—it proves that universities and national fraternities have long been on notice.
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green State (2021) from forced alcohol consumption; a $10+ million settlement.
- Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza died at Penn State (2017) after a bid-night drinking party, leading to the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
- Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver died at LSU (2017) during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to Louisiana’s felony hazing law.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced lawsuits at Texas A&M over pledges suffering severe chemical burns and at UT Austin over a brutal assault on an exchange student.
These national organizations, which all have chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor, maintain risk management manuals precisely because they know the dangers. When a chapter repeats a deadly pattern, it demonstrates a systemic failure, strengthening claims against the national headquarters.
4. The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look at the Organizations Serving Beasley Families
Where do Beasley students go? Many attend campuses in the Greater Houston area or head to major state universities. Using our proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS filings, university rosters, and public records—we maintain a detailed map of the Greek organizations that operate in Texas. This isn’t theoretical; it’s the investigative backbone we use to build cases.
For families in Fort Bend County, relevant campuses include:
- University of Houston (UH) (Harris County) – The site of the active Bermudez/Pi Kappa Phi litigation.
- Texas A&M University (Brazos County) – Home to a large Greek system and the Corps of Cadets.
- University of Texas at Austin (Travis County) – One of the nation’s largest Greek communities.
- Prairie View A&M University (Waller County) – A historic campus with active Greek life.
- Baylor University (McLennan County) & Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas.
Public Records Directory: A Snapshot of Texas Greek Entities
To demonstrate the scale and structure we investigate, here are examples of legally registered entities in Texas (source: IRS B83 filings & Cause IQ data):
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, FRISCO, TX 75035
- Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, MISSOURI CITY, TX 77459
- Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, HOUSTON, TX 77204
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845
- Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, AUSTIN, TX 78705
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, FORT WORTH, TX 76147
In the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area alone, public records indicate nearly 200 Greek-related organizations. These entities—house corporations, alumni chapters, educational foundations—often hold insurance policies and assets, and they form the network of liability we pursue in our investigations.
5. Building a Unbeatable Case: The Attorney911 Advantage
Fighting a national fraternity and a state university requires more than a standard personal injury approach. It demands insider knowledge, institutional litigation experience, and relentless investigation. This is where our firm’s unique composition makes the difference for Beasley families.
- Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
- Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with endless legal resources. A university or national fraternity does not intimidate us.
- Data-Driven Investigation: We deploy our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine from day one. We don’t start from scratch; we identify the network of liable entities, trace patterns of prior misconduct, and secure evidence before it disappears.
- Full-Spectrum Advocacy: With Mr. Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand both the criminal and civil sides of hazing cases. We can strategically advise families and witnesses navigating this dual-track system.
- Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring our services are accessible to all families in Fort Bend County’s diverse community.
6. Your Action Plan: Practical Steps for Beasley Parents & Students
If You Suspect or Discover Hazing:
- Prioritize Health & Safety: Seek immediate medical attention. Document everything the doctor says.
- Preserve ALL Evidence: This is the most crucial step. Follow our evidence preservation guide. Save group chats, photos, videos, and physical items. Write down a timeline with names.
- Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. Be aware that university Title IX offices may also have jurisdiction. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
- Consult a Hazing Specialist Immediately: Do not wait. As we explain in our video on client mistakes, delays allow evidence to vanish and narratives to be controlled by powerful institutions. The statute of limitations in Texas is generally two years, but the clock starts ticking the moment harm occurs.
7. Why Choose Attorney911? We Fight for Beasley Families Like Yours.
We are not a high-volume personal injury mill. We are a specialized complex litigation firm that takes on the hardest cases against the most powerful opponents. The active litigation against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi is proof of our commitment and capability. We bring the same rigorous, resource-intensive strategy to every family we represent.
We operate on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay no upfront costs, and our fee comes only from a successful recovery. Learn how contingency fees work.
If your child has been hazed at any Texas campus—whether at UH, Texas A&M, UT, a private university, or any college nationwide—you are not alone. The path forward begins with a confidential conversation.
Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 Today for a Free, Confidential Consultation.
Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)
We serve families in Beasley, Fort Bend County, and across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reading this content does not establish an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
