The Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing Laws in Texas: A Resource for City of Cottonwood, Kaufman County, and DFW Families

A University of Houston student lies on the floor of a fraternity house near campus. He is in the middle of an intense, hours-long “workout” he cannot refuse—if he stops, he risks being expelled from the pledge process he worked for months to join. Earlier, he was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately made to sprint. Now, his muscles are breaking down. Within days, he is hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and facing the risk of permanent organ damage. This is not a hypothetical. This is exactly what our client, Leonel Bermudez, alleges happened to him in Fall 2025 at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter.

We are The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), and we represent Mr. Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national organization, its housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This case, currently making headlines across Texas, is a stark reminder that severe, life-altering hazing is not a relic of the past—it is happening right now on Texas campuses. It can happen to any student, including those from families right here in City of Cottonwood, Kaufman County, and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area.

This guide exists for you—parents and families in City of Cottonwood—whose children may be attending a Texas university or considering Greek life. Our goal is simple: to provide you with the most comprehensive, fact-based resource available on hazing in Texas. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down Texas and federal law, examine patterns at major universities like UH and Texas A&M, and outline the legal pathways to justice and accountability. If you suspect your child has been hazed, knowledge is your first and most powerful tool.

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). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately.
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save physical items.
  • Write down everything you remember and are told.
  • DO NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university or insurers, or post details on social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence vanishes fast. We can help secure it. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

1. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For parents in City of Cottonwood, the word “hazing” might conjure images of movie pranks or harmless initiation rituals. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, systematic, and digitally enabled. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any organization.

Modern hazing tactics have evolved into three escalating tiers:

The Three-Tier Framework of Modern Hazing

• Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The “Gateway”)
  • Servitude: 24/7 on-call status, mandatory chauffeuring, cleaning members’ rooms.
  • Social Control: Enforced dress codes, mandatory attendance at all events, social isolation from non-members.
  • Digital Monitoring: Requirement to keep location sharing active, instant response demands in group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord).
  • The “Pledge Fanny Pack”: As alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were forced to carry a fanny pack containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items at all times.
• Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (The “Tradition”)
  • Sleep Deprivation: Late-night “study blocks” or meetings that end at 3 AM, followed by 6 AM wake-up calls.
  • Psychological Abuse: “Grilling” sessions with personal insults, forced confessions, threats of expulsion.
  • Forced Consumption: Eating or drinking unpleasant substances (like spoiled food, hot sauce, excessive milk).
  • Extreme Calisthenics: “Smokings” involving hundreds of push-ups, squats, or bear crawls under threat.
• Tier 3: Violent Hazing (The Catastrophe)
  • Forced Alcohol Consumption: The single most common cause of hazing deaths. This includes “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, “Bible study” drinking games, and lineups.
  • Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, being sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding” (as alleged in the UH case), or being hog-tied.
  • Dangerous Environments: Exposure to extreme cold in minimal clothing, lying in vomit-soaked grass.
  • Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), and sexual assault.

Hazing is not 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 other campus organizations. The common thread is an abuse of power cloaked in “tradition.”

2. Law & Liability Framework: Texas Law and Federal Overlays

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for City of Cottonwood families seeking accountability. Holding perpetrators responsible often involves navigating both state criminal statutes and civil liability claims.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

Texas has specific, robust anti-hazing statutes that apply to all educational institutions.

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintenance of membership.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury (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—the charge that could apply to cases like the one at UH involving rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is critical. Even if a student “agreed” to participate, the law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing. It is still a crime.
• Immunity for Reporters (§37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek medical assistance are immune from civil or criminal liability related to that report.

Civil Liability: Building a Case for Accountability

A criminal case, pursued by the state, seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit, filed by the victim or their family, seeks compensation for damages and institutional accountability. They can proceed simultaneously.

• Potential Defendants in a Civil Hazing Case:
  1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
  2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists.
  3. The National Fraternity/Sorority: For negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and prior knowledge of patterns. In the UH case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a defendant.
  4. The University: For negligent supervision, breach of duty to protect students, or Title IX violations (if the hazing is sex-based). Universities like UH and Texas A&M often argue they are protected by sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
  5. Housing Corporations & Alumni Boards: The entities that own or control chapter houses and properties.
  6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or owners of retreat venues.

Federal Laws That Apply

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal funds to publish more transparent hazing incident reports and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX procedures and potential liability are triggered.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.

For a City of Cottonwood family, this means a hazing incident at, say, UT Dallas may involve Dallas County prosecutors for criminal charges and Dallas County civil courts for a lawsuit, while federal laws provide additional grounds for accountability against the university.

3. The Proof Is in the Case: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

We anchor our understanding not in abstractions, but in the active, serious litigation we are handling right now. The case of Leonel Bermudez illustrates every tragic element of modern hazing and the complex web of liability.

Mr. Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter at UH in Fall 2025. What followed was a campaign of abuse allegedly including:

• The mandatory, humiliating “pledge fanny pack.”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner “similar to waterboarding.”
• An October incident where another pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour.
• A November 3rd “workout” involving 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.

The result? Mr. Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he could not stand without assistance, and he was hospitalized for four days with critically elevated creatine kinase levels. He faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.

Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County. The defendants include not just the student members, but the deep-pocketed institutions we allege failed in their duties:

• University of Houston and its Board of Regents.
• Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity.
• The Beta Nu Housing Corporation.
• 13 individual chapter leaders (President, Pledgemaster, Risk Manager, etc.).

The institutional response was telling. Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, after receiving reports. On November 14, the chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the allegations “deeply disturbing” and pledged cooperation with law enforcement. This case is a living example for City of Cottonwood parents: this is what serious hazing looks like, these are the entities that can be held responsible, and this is the level of litigation required to fight them.

4. The Local Greek Ecosystem: What City of Cottonwood and Kaufman County Families Need to Know

As a rural community in Kaufman County, your children likely attend universities both near and far. They may commute to UT Dallas or the University of North Texas in Denton, or they may live on campus at Texas A&M, UT Austin, or Texas Tech. Wherever they go, they encounter a vast, interconnected network of Greek organizations. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built on public records to understand this landscape.

Public Records: A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations

To show you the scale and structure behind the Greek letters, here are examples of Texas-registered fraternity and sorority entities from public IRS and organizational data. This is the type of directory we use to identify all potentially liable parties in a hazing case.

Fraternities and sororities are more than just groups of students; they are often legally registered organizations with tax IDs (EINs), housing corporations, and alumni foundations that can carry insurance and be sued. Below is a sample of the 1,423+ Greek organizations we track across 25 Texas metros.

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845. (IRS B83 filing)
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc, EIN 16-1675890, The Woodlands, TX 77382. (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035. (IRS B83 filing) This is the housing corporation for the very UH chapter involved in the Bermudez lawsuit.
• 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)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, Austin, TX 78705. (IRS B83 filing)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459. (IRS B83 filing)
• Denton-Lewisville Guide Right Foundation (affiliated with Kappa Alpha Psi), EIN 86-1205340, Flower Mound, TX 75028. (IRS B83 filing)

These entities, often based in Texas cities like Frisco, Austin, and Fort Worth, form the financial and legal backbone of chapters at campuses across the state. When hazing occurs, identifying every link in this chain is a critical first step toward accountability.

Where Do City of Cottonwood and Kaufman County Students Go?

Students from our community attend a wide range of Texas institutions with active Greek life. Proximity and family tradition play major roles.

• DFW Metro Area Schools: Many students commute or live at UT Dallas (Richardson), University of North Texas (Denton), Texas Woman’s University (Denton), and Southern Methodist University (Dallas).
• Flagship & Major State Schools: It is common for Kaufman County students to attend Texas A&M University (College Station), University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University (Lubbock), and Baylor University (Waco).
• The University of Houston: As a major urban university, UH draws students from across the state, including our region.

Each of these campuses has its own Greek community, complete with Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Divine Nine organizations. The national patterns of hazing repeat themselves on these campuses.

5. National Patterns, Local Harm: High-Profile Cases and Precedents

The hazing that happened at UH is not an anomaly. It is part of a national pattern that Texas courts recognize. When we build a case for a City of Cottonwood family, we use these precedents to show that the harm was foreseeable and preventable.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died of alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of liquor. Outcome: $10 million settlement ($7M from national fraternity, ~$3M from university).
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge died after a “Bible study” drinking game. Outcome: Criminal convictions and the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana. A civil verdict awarded his family $6.1 million.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a fall during a drinking event; help was delayed for hours. Outcome: Dozens of criminal charges and the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State University (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event. Outcome: Chapter closed, criminal prosecutions.

These cases matter because they establish pattern evidence. If a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi has a history of alcohol-related hazing deaths (like at FSU), it becomes much harder for them to claim they couldn’t foresee the risks in a new case (like at UH). For City of Cottonwood families, this means the legal path for holding powerful nationals accountable is well-worn by the grief of other families.

6. Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Our Strategic Approach

When you contact us about a potential hazing incident, we immediately begin a strategic, evidence-driven process. Our approach leverages our unique dual expertise: Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of complex litigation and federal court experience, and Mr. Lupe Peña’s insider knowledge as a former insurance defense attorney who knows exactly how institutions and their insurers fight these claims.

Critical Evidence in a Modern Hazing Case

• Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and text messages are the #1 source of evidence. We move quickly to preserve and forensically recover deleted chats that show planning, boasting, and cover-ups.
• Social Media & Photos: Posts, stories, and videos on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok that document events, injuries, or locations.
• Medical Records: Documentation of injuries is non-negotiable. This includes ER reports, hospitalization records, lab results (like CK levels for rhabdomyolysis), and follow-up care with specialists.
• University Records: Through discovery, we obtain prior conduct reports on the chapter, emails between administrators, and Clery Act reports to prove the school knew or should have known of risks.
• National Fraternity Records: We subpoena national headquarters for their files on the chapter, including prior incident reports, risk management visits, and communications that show pattern knowledge.

Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity (e.g., if a brain injury prevents a planned career).
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

In a wrongful death case, surviving family members can recover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and damages for their own grief, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering.

7. Practical Guide for City of Cottonwood and Kaufman County Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money for “fines” or “activities.”

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured or intoxicated, seek medical care immediately. Call 911 if necessary.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot all relevant group chats and messages before they are deleted. Photograph injuries. Save any physical items.
3. Document: Write down a timeline of what you were told, including names, dates, and locations.
4. Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can advise on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence.
5. Do Not: Confront the organization directly, sign any documents from the university, or post details on social media.

For Students: Your Rights and How to Exit Safely

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: “Tradition” is not an excuse for abuse.
• Consent is Not a Defense in Texas: You cannot legally agree to be hazed.
• Exiting Safely: If you need to quit, do so in writing (text/email) and inform a trusted adult or campus official. You do not owe them an in-person meeting where you could be pressured.
• Good Faith Reporting: Texas law offers protections for those who report hazing or seek medical help in an emergency.

8. Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911) for Your Texas Hazing Case?

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates with the specific expertise, resources, and tenacity to take on powerful universities and national fraternal corporations. Here is why our firm is uniquely equipped for this fight:

• We Are Handling a Major Texas Hazing Case Right Now: We are lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. We are not theorizing about hazing litigation; we are actively immersed in it, navigating the exact legal and tactical challenges your case would face.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers value claims, dispute coverage, and employ delay tactics. We use this insider knowledge to build leverage and avoid the traps that ensnare less-experienced firms.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants (Ralph Manginello): Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves we have the resources and skill to face the largest institutional defendants. National fraternities and major universities have deep pockets and aggressive defense firms—we are not intimidated.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,423 Texas Greek organizations, their IRS filings, housing corporations, and known histories. This allows us to quickly identify all potentially liable parties in your case.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: With Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand the interplay between criminal investigations and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving all Texas families in their preferred language.

We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and hazing cases. This means you pay no upfront fees; we only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you.

9. Call to Action: Contact Texas Hazing Litigation Specialists Today

If your child has been hazed—whether at a DFW-area school, a flagship campus like Texas A&M, or any Texas university—you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved will have their lawyers and public relations teams from day one. You deserve the same level of advocacy.

Time is of the essence. Critical evidence disappears within days: group chats are deleted, witnesses are coached, and the university may begin a process designed to limit its liability.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, evaluate your potential case, and explain all your legal options clearly and honestly. We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today:

• Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Phone: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly.

Let us help you secure justice for your child, hold the responsible parties accountable, and work to prevent this from happening to another family in City of Cottonwood or anywhere else.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide 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. We encourage you to seek professional legal counsel for advice on your specific situation.