A Guide for New Boston, Texas Families: Hazing, Fraternities, Sororities, and Your Legal Rights

If you are a parent in New Boston, Texas, watching your child leave for college is a mix of pride and worry. You imagine them pursuing their dreams at Texas A&M, the University of Texas, or another great Texas school. You don’t imagine receiving a call that they’re in the hospital because of a fraternity “tradition.” Yet, right now, just a few hours away in Houston, a family is living that nightmare. In late 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered acute kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis after severe hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not an isolated story. It is the latest chapter in a statewide crisis. Hazing is not a relic of the past; it is a present and evolving danger on campuses across Texas, including those where your children from Bowie County study. This guide is written specifically for New Boston parents and families. We will explain what hazing looks like today, the Texas laws designed to stop it, the sobering national and local case histories, and—most importantly—the legal options and practical steps available to you if hazing touches your family.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Crisis Response

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).

In the first 48 hours, you must:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” get them evaluated. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can be fatal and require specific tests.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text, and social media post related to the incident. Capture timestamps and sender names.
3. Document Physically: Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Save any clothing or objects involved. Write down everything your child tells you while their memory is fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization directly.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster.
   • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears rapidly. We can help you navigate this crisis, protect your child’s rights, and begin building a path to accountability. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For parents in New Boston, the word “hazing” might conjure images of silly pranks. Modern hazing is far more systematic, dangerous, and digitally enabled. Under Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37), hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in any organization.

Today’s hazing takes three escalating forms:

1. Subtle Hazing: The starting point, designed to create power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (cleaning, chauffeuring at all hours), sleep deprivation for “mandatory” meetings, social isolation, and being subjected to derogatory names or “fanny pack” rules with humiliating contents—exactly as alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.

2. Harassment Hazing: Actions causing emotional or physical distress. This encompasses verbal abuse, forced consumption of unpalatable substances (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting), extreme and punitive calisthenics (100+ push-ups, 500 squats), and exposure to the elements.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with high potential for catastrophic injury or death. This includes forced alcohol consumption (the leading cause of hazing deaths), physical beatings or paddling, “waterboarding” with a hose, dangerous physical tests, and sexualized humiliation.

The New Evolution: Digital Coercion & Off-Campus Retreats
Hazing has moved off the official campus radar. It now thrives in off-campus houses, rented Airbnbs, and parks—like the Yellowstone Boulevard Park used in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case. Control is exerted through 24/7 group chats where pledges are monitored, given orders, and threatened with expulsion for non-compliance. Evidence is often digital, but messages are deleted swiftly when trouble arises.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Liability

Texas has clear, strong laws against hazing. For New Boston families, understanding this framework is the first step toward accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (The Hazing Statute):

• Definition: A broad definition covering any reckless or intentional act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation, on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing offense (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Key Protections:
  • Consent is NOT a Defense: It doesn’t matter if your child “agreed” to the activity. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing.
  • Immunity for Reporters: Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek emergency medical assistance are protected from civil and criminal liability related to that report.

Civil Liability: The Path to Compensation and Accountability
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and force institutional change. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we look to hold every responsible party accountable, which can include:

• The individuals who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
• The local chapter as an organization.
• The national fraternity or sorority headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters.
• The university for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference to known dangers.
• Alumni housing corporations and property owners.

Federal Laws That Apply:

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, universities have specific investigative duties.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires greater transparency and public reporting of hazing incidents by 2026.

A National Crisis with Local Implications: Landmark Hazing Cases

The tragedy at UH is part of a national pattern. Understanding these cases shows that hazing methods are predictable, and institutions have often failed to stop them.

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a forced drinking “bid acceptance” night. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and resulted in dozens of criminal charges.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the fraternity national and university.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night, leading to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.

These cases prove that when families and skilled attorneys demand accountability, they can secure justice and drive systemic change. The same fraternities involved in these national tragedies—Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon—have chapters operating on Texas campuses today.

The Texas Campus Landscape: Where New Boston Families Send Their Kids

Families in Bowie County and New Boston have deep ties to Texas higher education. Your children may attend the local campus or head to major hubs across the state. Each has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana (Local Campus)

Located right in Bowie County, Texas A&M-Texarkana serves many local students. While its Greek life footprint is smaller than major research universities, the risks of misconduct in student organizations are universal. All Texas universities are bound by the same hazing laws and have a duty to protect students.

Major Statewide Universities (Common Destinations for New Boston Students)

University of Houston (UH): The site of our firm’s active Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. The allegations against the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter are a textbook case of violent, systemic hazing: forced “pledge fanny packs,” sleep deprivation, violent workouts, simulated waterboarding, and forced overconsumption leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The chapter was swiftly suspended and then voted to surrender its charter.

Texas A&M University (College Station): Home to a massive Greek community and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): In 2021, two pledges sued after alleged hazing left them with severe chemical burns from being doused with industrial-strength cleaner, requiring skin grafts.
• Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million in damages.

The University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state.

• Public records show sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forcing new members to consume milk and perform extreme calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UT faced a 2024 lawsuit from an exchange student who alleged a brutal assault at a party, resulting in fractures and ligament tears.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): This private Dallas university has faced its own scandals. In 2017, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation of new members.

Baylor University: Beyond its well-publicized athletic scandals, Baylor’s baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation, showing that abuse permeates beyond Greek life.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Texas Public Records Directory

When hazing occurs, liability extends beyond the students in the room. National fraternities, alumni housing corporations, and university systems all have legal and financial exposure. At Attorney911, we maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public IRS records, university data, and commercial databases, to map the true landscape of Greek-life organizations in Texas. This investigative database is critical for holding every responsible entity accountable.

For New Boston families, here is a snapshot of the Greek organization ecosystem recorded in public filings that intersects with Texas campuses:

Fraternity and Sorority Entities Connected to Texas Universities (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Data):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515) – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035. This is the housing corporation for the very UH chapter involved in the Bermudez lawsuit.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni (From Cause IQ, Beaumont Metro) – Alumni association for the Lamar University chapter.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN 74-6064445) – 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627. IRS listing for the Epsilon Kappa Chapter.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated (EIN 88-2755427) – 2104 Old Ranch Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666.
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi Chapter (From Cause IQ, Corpus Christi Metro) – Texas A&M–Kingsville chapter.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Beaumont Alumni (From Cause IQ, Beaumont Metro) – Graduate chapter in Beaumont.
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Multiple EINs) – Academic honor society chapters at nearly every Texas university, including Texas A&M (EIN 90-0293166), UT El Paso (EIN 38-3742830), and Texas Tech (EIN 82-0644459).

Statewide, our data tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metropolitan areas. In the Texarkana metro area, public records show Delta Kappa Gamma Society chapters and an Alpha Phi Omega colony at Texas A&M-Texarkana. In the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth metro—a common destination for Texas students—there are over 510 such organizations.

This directory isn’t just a list; it’s a litigation map. When we take a case, we use this data to identify every potential defendant—from the local chapter house corporation to the national headquarters—ensuring no responsible party can hide behind bureaucracy.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a fast, thorough, and technologically savvy investigation. At The Manginello Law Firm, we deploy the same strategies used in our BP Texas City explosion and complex wrongful death litigation.

Critical Evidence in a Modern Hazing Case:

• Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. We work with experts to preserve this evidence before it’s lost forever.
• Social Media & Photo Archives: Posts, stories, and photos that seem like “fun” to members can be powerful evidence of coercion, alcohol use, and dangerous activities.
• Internal Fraternity Records: Through discovery, we obtain chapter minutes, pledge education materials, and communications with national headquarters that show knowledge of traditions and prior incidents.
• University Discipline Files: We subpoena records of prior hazing violations against the same organization, proving the university and nationals had foresight of the risk.
• Medical Records: Documentation of injuries is paramount. In the UH case, lab reports showing critically high creatine kinase levels proved the life-threatening rhabdomyolysis.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics:
Fraternities, sororities, and universities have sophisticated defense playbooks. Our experience, including Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, allows us to anticipate and counter their strategies:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law explicitly states consent is no defense. We demonstrate the coercive environment and power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use national hazing databases and internal records to show patterns of similar behavior across the country, proving the national organization knew or should have known.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is not determined by zip code. If the organization sponsored, knew about, or exercised control over the activity, they can be held responsible.

Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families:
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold institutions accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and cost of long-term care or therapy.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (in fatalities): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious misconduct, courts can award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

We work with life-care planners, economists, and vocational experts to build a comprehensive picture of the harm done, ensuring we fight for full and fair compensation.

Practical Guides for New Boston Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Watch for:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue and sleep deprivation unrelated to academics.
• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.

If you suspect hazing:

1. Talk calmly with your child. Express concern, not accusation.
2. Listen and document. Write down what they say.
3. Secure medical care if there is any indication of injury.
4. Contact an attorney before reporting to the university or confronting the organization. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and preserve evidence.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You have the right to be safe. No tradition is worth your life or health.
• You have the right to leave. You can de-pledge or resign at any time.
• Texas law protects good-faith reporters. If you call 911 for someone in medical distress, you are generally protected from university sanctions related to underage drinking.
• Preserve evidence. Take screenshots, photos, and notes. Tell someone you trust.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

• Deleting digital evidence. Those group chats are crucial.
• Confronting the organization directly, which triggers their defense strategy.
• Signing university-mediated resolution agreements without legal advice.
• Posting about the incident on social media, which can be used against you.
• Waiting too long. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence and witness memories fade fast.

Why Attorney911 for New Boston Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the institutional battlefield. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique set of skills to hazing litigation:

• Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now, against a major university and national fraternity.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deny coverage, and drag out cases. We use this insider knowledge to force fair settlements and prepare for trial.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: 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 defendants, deep-pocketed insurers, or prestigious universities. We have federal court experience and a network of expert witnesses ready to build an unbeatable case.
• A Data-Driven Investigative Edge: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, with over 1,423 Greek organizations mapped, means we don’t start from scratch. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national entities that share liability.
• Comprehensive Client Advocacy: We handle both the civil lawsuit for compensation and can provide criminal defense guidance if needed, thanks to Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We also offer Spanish-language legal services through Mr. Peña.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in New Boston, Bowie County, or anywhere in Texas, and you believe your child has been victimized by hazing, you are not alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

We offer a free, completely confidential consultation to evaluate your situation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic outcomes, timelines, and process.
• Answer all your questions about legal fees (we work on a contingency basis—no fee unless we win).

You have the right to answers, accountability, and justice. Let us help you fight for it.

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 | For Spanish-speaking clients: lupe@atty911.com

We serve families 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. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.