Hazing in Texas: A Legal Guide for Goodrich Families and Students

When a Night of “Tradition” Becomes a Medical Emergency: What Goodrich Families Need to Know Right Now

It’s a fall evening in Goodrich, Texas. Your child, a determined freshman at a university hours away, has just accepted a bid to join an organization promising brotherhood, sisterhood, and lifelong bonds. Weeks later, a cryptic text mentions “mandatory study sessions” that run past midnight. Later, a phone call home reveals exhaustion, unexplained bruises, and a strange, fearful reluctance to talk about what happens at the chapter house. Then, the worst call comes—the one from a hospital, where your child is being treated for acute kidney failure after a “pledge workout.” You feel shock, anger, and a profound sense of helplessness. The university says they’re investigating. The fraternity national headquarters issues a statement about “zero tolerance.” But your child is the one in the hospital bed. What do you do now?

This is not a hypothetical scenario for Texas families. Right now, in Houston, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country—the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter lawsuit. This $10 million case alleges a systematic campaign of abuse that left a young man with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure after being forced through extreme physical hazing, including 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down, but the medical and psychological trauma for Bermudez continues.

For parents and students in Goodrich, in Polk County, and across East Texas, this case is a stark warning. Hazing is not a relic of the past or harmless horseplay. It is a dangerous, often criminal practice that persists at campuses across Texas, including those where Goodrich families send their children. Whether your student attends nearby Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, or a major hub like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or the University of Houston, you need to know the realities of modern hazing, the legal framework that governs it, and the practical steps to protect your child.

This guide is written specifically for Goodrich families and Texas students. We will explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, break down Texas and federal law, analyze patterns from national tragedies, and provide campus-specific insight. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and to show how an experienced Texas hazing litigation firm can help families seek accountability and recovery.

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, even if the student insists they are “fine.” Conditions like rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries may not show immediate symptoms.
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an 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. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes—What Goodrich Families Must Recognize

Hazing is no longer just about paddling or silly pranks. It is a sophisticated, often digitally-facilitated form of coercion and abuse designed to enforce power dynamics. For Goodrich parents whose frame of reference might be older Hollywood depictions, understanding the modern reality is critical.

A Modern Legal Definition

In Texas, hazing is broadly defined under the Education Code as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. The key takeaway: it can be physical or psychological, and it can occur on or off campus. Most importantly, the victim’s “consent” is not a legal defense.

The Evolution of Hazing Tactics

Today’s hazing often falls into three escalating tiers:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation from non-members, mandatory “study blocks” that interfere with sleep, and carrying degrading “pledge items” (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, which contained condoms and sex toys).

2. Harassment Hazing: Acts that cause emotional or physical discomfort. This encompasses verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and forced physical exercise beyond safe limits—like the “bear crawls” and “wheelbarrow races” alleged in the Bermudez case.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for serious injury or death. This is what makes headlines:

• Forced/Coerced Consumption: Alcohol poisoning remains the leading cause of hazing deaths. Rituals like “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, and forced chugging are predictable and deadly.
• Physical Assault: Beatings, paddling, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, and dangerous physical tests.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and sexual assault.
• Environmental Dangers: Exposure to extreme weather, kidnapping, or being abandoned.

The Digital Layer: Modern hazing is coordinated and enforced through GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram. Pledges are monitored 24/7, forced to share locations, and subjected to public humiliation online. This digital trail, however, can become critical evidence.

The Legal Framework: Texas Law, Federal Overlays, and Civil Liability

Understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward accountability. Goodrich families need to know that multiple layers of law can apply.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas has a robust anti-hazing statute that provides both criminal penalties and a foundation for civil lawsuits.

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes bodily injury, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it is a state jail felony. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or other student organization itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NO Defense: Texas law (§37.155) is explicit: a victim’s agreement to participate is not a defense against hazing charges.
• Good-Faith Reporting Immunity: Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability for the report itself. This is meant to encourage calling for help.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Recovery

Criminal prosecution is handled by the state. A civil lawsuit, which our firm handles, is filed by the victim or their family to seek compensation and hold all responsible parties accountable. Potential defendants in a civil hazing case include:

1. The Individuals Who Participated: Members who planned, executed, or supervised the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and for having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns at other chapters. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a defendant.
4. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, or UT can be sued for negligent supervision, premises liability, or Title IX violations if they knew or should have known about the risks and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, property owners of retreat venues, and alcohol providers.

Federal Laws: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or is gender-based, schools have specific obligations to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including assaults and alcohol/drug violations that often accompany hazing.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publish more transparent hazing data and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.

National Cases, Texas Lessons: The Patterns That Predict Tragedy

The hazing that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez at UH is not an isolated incident. It follows a national playbook seen in devastating cases across the country. Understanding these patterns shows that these are not “accidents,” but foreseeable consequences of known, dangerous practices.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. The result was a $10 million settlement and criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, strengthening felony hazing penalties.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” event, leading to a system-wide Greek life suspension.

The Lesson for Texas: The forced alcohol consumption alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case—where pledges were made to drink milk, eat hot dogs and peppercorns until vomiting—fits this deadly pattern. Nationals and universities are on clear notice.

The Physical Assault & Ritualized Abuse Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family reached multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

The Lesson for Texas: The extreme physical workouts, “waterboarding” with a hose, and hog-tying alleged in the UH lawsuit are part of this pattern of ritualized violence.

Why These Histories Matter for Your Case

In civil litigation, we use these national patterns to prove foreseeability. If a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi has a history of alcohol-related hazing deaths (like at FSU), and then a similar pattern emerges at their UH chapter, it becomes much harder for them to claim they “couldn’t have known” the risks. This history strengthens claims for negligence and, potentially, punitive damages.

Texas Universities Under the Microscope: A Guide for Goodrich Families

Goodrich students often attend universities across the state. Understanding the specific landscape, policies, and histories of these schools is essential. We maintain detailed data on the Greek ecosystems at these institutions as part of our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine.

The University of Houston: A Case Study in Active Litigation

The ongoing Bermudez lawsuit provides a real-time blueprint for how a major Texas university and national fraternity respond to catastrophic hazing.

• The Allegations: As detailed in media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, the hazing included humiliation, sleep deprivation, forced labor, and extreme physical abuse culminating in rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• The Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on Nov. 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.
• The Lawsuit: Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members. This case demonstrates our active, aggressive approach to hazing litigation.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

For Goodrich families with students in College Station, understanding the dual risks of Greek life and the Corps of Cadets is critical.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. A lawsuit sought $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million, highlighting that hazing extends beyond Greek letters.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, providing a window into ongoing issues.

• Public Log: The university lists organizations found responsible for hazing, such as Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student sued a UT SAE chapter for over $1 million after allegedly being assaulted at a party, suffering a broken nose and dislocated leg.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

These private institutions have their own histories. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor has faced hazing incidents within its athletic programs, including a 2020 baseball team hazing suspension.

What This Means for a Goodrich Family

If hazing happens at any of these schools, the legal process will involve local jurisdiction. For example, a case at Sam Houston State University would involve Walker County courts. Our firm’s experience spans the state—we understand the local courts, the universities’ internal processes, and how to navigate these systems to protect your family.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Meet Texas Chapters

Fraternities and sororities are not just local clubs. They are chapters of large, national organizations with documented histories of hazing incidents. When we take a case, we investigate not just the local event, but the national organization’s knowledge and response to patterns of abuse. Here is a snapshot of the type of organizational data we maintain, drawn from public records and our investigative resources:

A Sample of Texas Greek Organization Entities (From Public Filings):

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc., EIN 273662583, Lufkin, TX 75904 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc. – Theta Delta Chapter, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 Filing)

These entities—house corporations, alumni chapters, educational foundations—often hold insurance policies and assets. Identifying them is a crucial first step in building a comprehensive lawsuit that leaves no responsible party unexamined.

National Patterns of Key Organizations:

• Pi Kappa Alpha: National history includes the Stone Foltz death at BGSU and a $14 million settlement in the David Bogenberger case at NIU.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Has faced lawsuits across the country, including the traumatic brain injury case at Alabama and the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU led to felony hazing legislation.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization is currently a defendant in our UH lawsuit and was involved in the Andrew Coffey death at FSU.

This national context is vital. It shows that universities and national headquarters cannot credibly claim ignorance. The dangerous scripts of forced drinking, violent initiations, and humiliating rituals are well-known, documented, and repeated.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing a hazing case requires a methodical, evidence-driven approach. As we are doing in the Bermudez case, we build from the ground up.

The Evidence Pyramid

1. Digital Forensics: The #1 source of evidence. We preserve and analyze GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and social media DMs. Even deleted messages can often be recovered. These chats show planning, intimidation, boasts, and cover-up attempts.
2. Photographic/Video Evidence: Photos of injuries, videos of events, social media posts, and location data.
3. Medical Records: Documentation is paramount. ER records, lab results (like the critically high creatine kinase levels showing rhabdomyolysis in the UH case), hospitalization reports, and psychiatric evaluations for PTSD or trauma.
4. Institutional Records: Through discovery, we obtain the university’s prior conduct files on the organization, the national fraternity’s risk management reports, and internal communications.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, neighbors, and emergency responders.

Recoverable Damages

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 earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Goodrich Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities or fear of talking about them.
• Constant, anxious monitoring of phone for group chat messages.
• Personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or anger.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “activities.”

What to Do:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured, get medical care immediately. Document everything.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL digital communications. Photograph injuries. Do not let them delete anything.
3. Listen Without Judgment: Create a safe space for your child to talk. They may feel shame or fear.
4. Consult an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: An attorney can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
5. Do Not Sign Anything from the University or Insurers: These are often designed to limit liability. Have an attorney review everything.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out.

• The Test: Are you being pressured, coerced, or threatened to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal to belong? Does it feel wrong? If yes, it’s hazing.
• Your Rights: You have the legal right to quit at any time. Texas law protects good-faith reporters.
• Exiting Safely: Tell a trusted person outside the organization first (parent, RA, dean). Send a clear, written resignation to the chapter president. Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots. Save everything. Your phone is your most important tool.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: This is the single biggest error. It looks like a cover-up and destroys your case.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Agreements: These often include waivers of your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: The Texas statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years. Evidence and witness memories fade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M?
A: Yes. While sovereign immunity provides some protection, exceptions exist for gross negligence, intentional acts, and Title IX violations. Universities often settle to avoid the discovery process and bad publicity.

Q: What if it happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not absolve liability. The university and national organization can still be responsible based on their knowledge, sponsorship, and control over the chapter. The national fraternity in the Michael Deng case was convicted for an off-campus retreat death.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: 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. You can learn more about how this works in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Q: How long will a case take?
A: It varies. Some cases settle in months; complex litigation like the UH Pi Kappa Phi case can take years. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which is the best way to achieve a fair settlement.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a firm with the specific expertise, resources, and determination to take on powerful universities and national organizations. Here is why Goodrich families choose us:

1. We Are Leading Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation.
Right now, we are counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are not theorists; we are in the trenches, fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the state. We understand the current tactics of defense teams and institutions.

2. Insider Insurance Knowledge.
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deny coverage, and attempt to minimize payouts. We use this insider knowledge to counter their strategies and maximize your recovery. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.

3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants.
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced the deepest pockets and most aggressive defense teams. National fraternities and major universities do not intimidate us. See Ralph’s track record and background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.

4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine.
We don’t start from scratch. We maintain detailed data on Texas Greek organizations—from national headquarters to local housing corporations. This investigatory head start allows us to quickly identify all potentially liable parties and their assets.

5. A Comprehensive, Compassionate Approach.
We fight for full accountability, but we never lose sight of the human cost. We work with medical experts, life-care planners, and economists to document the true extent of damages—both economic and the profound personal toll. We guide families through every step with clear communication and unwavering support.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in Goodrich, Polk County, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers. You deserve expert advocates in your corner.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

We will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the potential paths forward, including civil litigation.
• Answer your questions about process, timelines, and costs.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com.

Se habla Español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us help you seek the answers, accountability, and recovery your family deserves.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com