The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits for Bremond, Texas Families: Holding Fraternities, Sororities & Texas Universities Accountable

If you’re a parent in Bremond, Texas, watching your child leave for college at Texas A&M, the University of Texas, Baylor, or another Texas campus, your deepest fear isn’t just about grades. It’s the hidden, dangerous world of campus traditions that can turn deadly. In the quiet communities of Robertson County, from Bremond to Hearne to Calvert, families share a common hope: that their children will find friendship and belonging. Too often, that search for connection leads to fraternity houses, Corps dormitories, or spirit squad basements where hazing—disguised as tradition—causes permanent injuries and, sometimes, death.

Right now, Texas is ground zero for one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In Houston, just hours from Bremond, we at Attorney911 represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders. The allegations are horrific: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; extreme physical workouts; and the degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule. This systematic abuse left Bermudez with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, hospitalized for four days with brown urine and critically high enzyme levels. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down, but the physical and psychological harm is permanent.

This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a pattern repeated across Texas campuses where your children study. This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Bremond, Robertson County, and across Central Texas to help you understand what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects your child, what’s happening on campuses from College Station to Waco to Austin, and what legal options you have if hazing injures your family.

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, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

For Bremond families, hazing might conjure images of outdated movie pranks. Today’s hazing is more systematic, digitally documented, and psychologically complex. It’s any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining a group that endangers physical or mental health. “I agreed to it” is not a legal defense in Texas when power imbalance and peer pressure are at play.

The Four Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly. It includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor (like the Pi Kappa Phi case at UH), and pressure to consume unknown drugs. The goal is often incapacitation, not celebration.

2. Physical Hazing: Beyond paddling, this includes extreme calisthenics or “smokings” (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse), sleep and food deprivation, exposure to extreme elements, and dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks”), degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones. These aim to break down dignity and enforce absolute control.

4. Psychological and Digital Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats, and public shaming. Digital hazing includes group chat dares, forced social media posts, location tracking via apps, and humiliation spread on TikTok or Snapchat.

Hazing isn’t confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs (like at Texas A&M), athletic teams, spirit groups (like the Texas Cowboys), marching bands, and even some academic clubs. Wherever there is a hierarchy, tradition, and secrecy, hazing can thrive.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Bremond Families Need to Know

Texas has strong anti-hazing statutes designed to protect students. Understanding this framework is the first step to accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37 (The Hazing Statute)

The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization. Key provisions for Bremond parents include:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” is irrelevant. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure is coercion.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Anyone who reports hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement is protected from civil or criminal liability, encouraging bystanders to call for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (e.g., Robertson County District Attorney or county where campus is located). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims or their families. Aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. We pursue claims for negligence, negligent supervision, wrongful death, and emotional distress.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to file a successful civil lawsuit.

Federal Law Overlay: Title IX, Clery, and New National Standards

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based abuse, universities have a legal duty to investigate and respond.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults or alcohol crimes.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Texas Chapters Follow

The tragedy at UH is not unique. It follows a national script written by decades of preventable deaths. These cases show the patterns and establish the legal precedents that protect Texas families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: From “Tradition” to Tragedy

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and dozens of criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A “Big/Little” night where Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. He died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Another “Big Brother” night with a handle of liquor. Coffey’s death led FSU to temporarily suspend all Greek life.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing: Violence Disguised as Bonding

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): A blindfolded, weighted-down pledge was repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. He died from traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was convicted of felony charges and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): A pledge dad reveal night with forced drinking left Santulli with permanent, severe brain damage. He requires 24/7 care. His family settled with 22 defendants.

What These Cases Mean for Bremond

These national tragedies prove that specific fraternity rituals are foreseeably dangerous. When the same “Big/Little” drinking script from Bowling Green appears at a Texas chapter, it demonstrates that the national organization failed to prevent a known, deadly pattern. This “pattern evidence” is crucial for holding national headquarters liable.

Texas Focus: Where Bremond Families Send Their Kids to College

Bremond students often attend nearby universities or major statewide hubs. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is critical.

1. Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For many in Robertson County, Texas A&M in College Station is a top choice, with its strong traditions and the Corps of Cadets. The culture of discipline and tradition, while often positive, can mask severe abuse.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and victims filed a lawsuit.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. He sued for over $1 million, highlighting that hazing extends beyond Greek life.
• For Bremond Families: A&M’s size and tradition can make reporting intimidating. Hazing cases here may involve both university conduct offices and Corps-specific regulations. Evidence must be gathered quickly, as the close-knit culture can lead to rapid evidence destruction.

2. Baylor University

Many Central Texas families choose Baylor in Waco for its academic and faith-based community. However, its history with institutional scandals shows that oversight failures can occur anywhere.

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, revealing that abuse exists within athletic programs.
• Context: Following Baylor’s high-profile Title IX failures, the university has pledged reform, but vigilance is required. Internal processes may prioritize the institution’s reputation.

3. University of Texas at Austin

UT’s scale and prominence make it a destination for top students. It also maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state—a tool for accountability.

• Public Hazing Violations Log: UT lists sanctioned organizations. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was placed on probation in 2023 for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student allegedly suffered a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia at an SAE party, leading to a lawsuit. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.
• For Bremond Families: UT’s public log is a powerful resource. If your child is hazed by a group with prior violations, it strengthens claims that the university had notice and failed to act.

4. University of Houston & The Pi Kappa Phi Case

The ongoing Leonel Bermudez lawsuit is the flagship Texas case. It demonstrates the extreme end of the hazing spectrum and the complex web of liability.

• The Defendants: The lawsuit names not just the students, but the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. This comprehensive approach is necessary to access all potential insurance coverage and ensure true accountability.
• The Institutional Response: UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter within days of reports, and members voted to surrender their charter. This rapid action is often the result of serious legal pressure and media exposure, which a dedicated law firm can provide.
• The Medical Catastrophe: Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury are life-altering. His case underscores that hazing isn’t about “rough play”—it’s about organ failure and permanent disability.

Other Regional Campuses for Bremond Students

• Texas State University (San Marcos)
• Sam Houston State University (Huntsville)
• Blinn College (Brenham)
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton)
• Tarleton State University (Stephenville)

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories, Local Harm

The fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses are local chapters of powerful national brands. These nationals have long, documented histories of hazing incidents across the country. When a chapter at UT, A&M, or Baylor repeats a deadly pattern, it proves the national organization failed to enforce its own policies.

A Sample of National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories in Texas

Our firm maintains a proprietary intelligence engine tracking over 1,423 Greek-related entities across Texas. Below is a snapshot of the public records and national histories parents should know.

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ – “Pike”):

• National History: Responsible for the Stone Foltz hazing death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement). Multiple other deaths and serious injuries nationwide.
• Texas Presence: Active at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Baylor, and others.
• Texas IRS Entity Example: Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, mailing address in Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing).

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ – “SAE”):

• National History: One of the deadliest fraternities historically; eliminated the “pledge” system in 2014 after numerous deaths but problems persist.
• Texas Incidents: The chemical burns case at Texas A&M and the assault lawsuit at UT Austin.
• Texas IRS Entity Example: Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated, EIN 882755427, mailing address in San Marcos, TX 78666 (IRS B83 filing).

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National History: The Andrew Coffey hazing death at Florida State University.
• Active Texas Litigation: The Leonel Bermudez $10M lawsuit at UH.
• Texas IRS Entity Example: Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, mailing address in Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing).

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National History: The Max Gruver hazing death at LSU, which led to felony hazing laws in Louisiana.
• Texas Presence: Active at multiple Texas campuses.
• Texas IRS Entity Example: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – Texas Xi, EIN 900927378, mailing address in San Antonio, TX 78249 (IRS B83 filing).

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Public Records Directory for Bremond Parents

To show the scale and complexity of what families are up against, here is a sample from our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a directory built from IRS filings, university rosters, and corporate data. We maintain this so families don’t start their search from zero.

Sample IRS-Registered Greek Organizations in Texas (Public B83 Filings):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing – house corporation).
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta, EIN 475370943, 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing – chapter entity).
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, PO Box 540026, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 filing – graduate chapter).
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing – foundation).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M Chapter, EIN 900293166, 114 Henderson Hall, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 filing – honor society).

Greek Organizations in the Waco Metro Area (serving Baylor families):

• Cause IQ data shows 27 Greek-related organizations in the Waco metro area, including chapter house corporations, alumni associations, and honor societies tied to Baylor University.

This interconnected web of local chapters, alumni housing corporations, national headquarters, and educational foundations is where liability and insurance coverage are found. An experienced hazing law firm knows how to identify and pursue every responsible entity.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When hazing injures your child, the response must be immediate and strategic. Universities and national fraternities have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who begin building their defense the moment they get wind of an incident.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases

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