Texas Hazing Guide for Knollwood Families: Legal Rights, University Accountability & How to Protect Your Child

If you are a parent in Knollwood, Texas, your worst nightmare might involve a late-night phone call from your child at college—a call about a “tradition” gone wrong, an injury from a “team-building exercise,” or a hospital trip after a “party.” For families in Grayson County and across North Texas, sending a child to a Texas university is a point of pride. But alongside that pride comes a responsibility to understand the hidden dangers within some campus organizations.

Right now, in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was systematically hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in the fall of 2025. What began as a bid to join a fraternity escalated into forced humiliation, extreme physical abuse, and a medical catastrophe. He was forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” subjected to hours of brutal workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner “similar to waterboarding,” and forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. The result was not just a bad night; it was rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, its housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders is not an isolated incident. It is a stark, current example of what can and does happen to students from communities like ours. This guide is for you: the parents, grandparents, and families in Knollwood, Sherman, and across Grayson County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, outline your family’s legal rights under Texas law, detail the realities at major universities where your children may study, and provide a clear path forward if the unthinkable happens.

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.
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot all group chats, texts, and DMs. Photograph injuries. Save any physical items.
  • Write down everything your child tells you.
  • Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or let your child delete messages.
• Contact us within 24-48 hours: Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Today

For parents in Knollwood, the term “hazing” might conjure images of outdated movie scenes. Today’s hazing is more insidious, often disguised as “bonding” and documented on smartphones. It is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. Crucially, under Texas law, a student’s “consent” is not a defense.

Modern hazing falls into three escalating tiers that parents must recognize:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The “Gateway”)
This establishes power imbalance and seems “harmless.” It includes:

• Mandatory servitude: Being on call 24/7 as a designated driver, for cleaning, or running errands for older members.
• Social isolation: Being cut off from non-member friends or requiring permission to socialize.
• Digital control: Required instant responses in group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), forced location sharing via apps, and social media policing.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
This causes emotional or physical discomfort and creates an abusive environment.

• Sleep deprivation: Late-night “meetings” or 3 AM wake-up calls for mandatory tasks.
• Forced consumption: Eating gross food combinations or excessive amounts of bland food.
• Psychological abuse: “Grilling” sessions with yelling, insults, and threats.
• Public humiliation: Forced embarrassing acts in public or degrading costumes.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing
These acts have a high potential for serious injury, sexual assault, or death—exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH.

• Forced/coerced alcohol consumption: “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, drinking games like “Bible Study” where wrong answers mean drinking.
• Physical beatings: Paddling, punching, or “branding.”
• Dangerous physical tests: Extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) leading to rhabdomyolysis, blindfolded tackle rituals, forced fights.
• Sexualized hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
• “Retreat” hazing: Moving abusive activities to off-campus Airbnbs or rural properties to avoid detection.

Hazing is not limited to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is the abuse of power in the name of tradition.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Knollwood Parent’s Legal Framework

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, and they apply whether your child is at a school in Houston, College Station, or Austin. Understanding this framework is the first step to holding people accountable.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37: The Core Law
Texas defines hazing broadly and treats it seriously:

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) is explicit: even if your child “agreed,” it is still hazing.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (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.
• Immunity for Reporting: State law protects those who, in good faith, report hazing or call 911 in a medical emergency.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Compensation
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit is filed by the victim or family to recover damages and force institutional change. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil case, we can seek to hold multiple parties liable:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity, sorority, or club as an entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents nationwide is critical.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if hazing is sexualized).
5. Third Parties: Property owners, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies.

Federal Law Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal aid to increase transparency in hazing reporting and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, federal Title IX procedures and obligations are triggered.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

For a public university like UT Austin or Texas A&M, “sovereign immunity” can be a hurdle, but not a bar. Exceptions exist for gross negligence, and lawsuits often prompt substantial settlements, as seen in the $3 million settlement from Bowling Green State University in the Stone Foltz case.

Lessons from National Tragedy: Why History Matters for Texas Families

The hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not unique. It follows a national playbook. Understanding these patterns shows how predictable—and preventable—these tragedies are.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died from alcohol poisoning after a “Big/Little” event. Result: $10 million in settlements, criminal convictions, and the chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A pledge died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid acceptance night with extreme drinking, captured on chapter cameras. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil suits, and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy’s Law.”
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana, and his family secured a $6.1 million verdict.
• Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): A pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants and a lifetime of required care.

The Pattern is Clear: Forced drinking, delayed medical care, institutional cover-ups, and national organizations with long histories of similar incidents. These cases create legal precedents for “foreseeability”—proving that national fraternities and universities knew or should have known the risks. This pattern evidence is a powerful tool in building a case for families in Texas.

The Texas University Landscape: A Guide for Knollwood Families

Knollwood families often send their children to universities across the state. Here is what you need to know about the hazing landscape at major Texas schools.

University of Houston (UH)

For Knollwood Families: While UH is several hours south, it is a major destination for Texas students and the site of our firm’s active, flagship litigation.

• Snapshot: A large, diverse urban campus with active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural).
• The Bermudez Case: This ongoing $10 million lawsuit is the most severe recent example. It alleges UH and Pi Kappa Phi national knew about systemic hazing and failed to act. After media exposure, the Beta Nu chapter was suspended and members voted to surrender their charter.
• Prior Incidents: UH has suspended chapters for hazing, including a Pi Kappa Alpha case where a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.
• Action for UH Families: Report to UH’s Dean of Students and UHPD. Understand that cases may involve Houston Police and be filed in Harris County courts. The Bermudez case demonstrates the level of investigation required to take on a major university and national fraternity.

Texas A&M University

For Knollwood Families: Texas A&M is a premier university with a deep cultural footprint in Texas, attracting students from our region.

• Snapshot: Home to a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets, both with hazing risks rooted in tradition.
• Corps of Cadets Hazing: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. A&M stated it handled the matter internally.
• Fraternity Incidents: A Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit alleged pledges were doused with industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
• Action for A&M Families: Reporting can go to Student Conduct or Corps leadership. Be aware that the culture of tradition can create strong pressure to remain silent. Civil cases may focus on the university’s oversight of both Greek and Corps programs.

University of Texas at Austin

For Knollwood Families: UT Austin is another top-tier university where North Texas students compete to attend.

• Snapshot: Has a relatively transparent public “Hazing Violations” webpage, listing sanctioned organizations.
• Documented Violations: Recent entries include Pi Kappa Alpha for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon for an alleged assault on an exchange student that resulted in a broken nose and dislocated leg.
• Action for UT Families: Check UT’s public hazing log for prior violations of your child’s organization—this is powerful pattern evidence. Reports go to the Dean of Students and UTPD.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

• SMU: A private university with affluent Greek life. Kappa Alpha Order was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Private schools have fewer public reporting requirements, making internal investigations and legal discovery critical.
• Baylor: Has faced scrutiny over campus safety culture. Its baseball team suspended 14 players following a hazing investigation in 2020.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories & Local Chapters

When a hazing incident occurs at a Texas chapter, the national organization’s history is legally relevant. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, tracking over 1,400 Greek-related entities across the state. This investigative depth is how we build cases.

For example, in the Bermudez case, the national organization Pi Kappa Phi had a documented history:

• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (2017): A Pi Kappa Phi pledge died from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night.
  This national pattern helps prove that the risks were foreseeable and that any “anti-hazing policy” was inadequately enforced.

Public Records: Fraternity & Sorority Entities Connected to Texas Campuses
Our research into public filings (IRS B83 records, Cause IQ data) identifies the legal entities behind Greek life. This is crucial for identifying all potentially liable parties and their insurance coverage. For instance, records show Texas-registered entities like:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• 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
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Epsilon Kappa Chapter) – EIN 74-6064445 – Nederland, TX 77627

These entities, along with national headquarters and alumni corporations, can all share liability. We use this data to ensure no responsible party escapes accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages for Knollwood Families

If your family is facing this crisis, knowing how a case is built can empower you. Our approach combines the investigative rigor of our BP Texas City explosion litigation experience with the insider insurance knowledge of Mr. Lupe Peña, a former defense attorney for national insurance firms.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Evidence: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), deleted messages recovered via forensics, social media posts, and location data.
2. Internal Documents: Chapter “pledge manuals,” risk management reports, emails between actives and nationals.
3. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained through discovery or public records requests.
4. Medical Evidence: ER records, diagnoses (like rhabdomyolysis), psychological evaluations for PTSD, and future care plans.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Overcoming Common Defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law voids this defense. We demonstrate coercion and power imbalance.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and sponsorship, not just location.
• “Rogue Individuals”: We show national and university knowledge of prior incidents, proving systemic failure.

Damages Your Family May Recover:

• Economic: All medical bills (past and future), lost tuition, lost future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic: Pain and suffering, psychological trauma (PTSD, depression), humiliation.
• Wrongful Death: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering for families.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish and deter future conduct.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Knollwood Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

• Signs Your Child May Be Hazed: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), constant phone monitoring for group chats, dropping grades.
• What to Do First: Prioritize medical care. Help your child preserve all digital evidence (screenshots, photos). Write down their story. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before reporting to the university or confronting the organization.
• Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not let your child delete messages. Do not sign any university-offered resolution agreement without legal advice. Do not post details on social media.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, endangered, or humiliated to belong, it likely is. “Tradition” is not an excuse.
• How to Exit Safely: Your safety comes first. You can resign at any time via email. If you fear retaliation, report it to campus police and the Dean of Students.
• Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots, photos of injuries, and save everything. In Texas, you can legally record conversations you are part of.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we sue a university in Texas? Yes. While public universities have some immunity, lawsuits for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or against individual administrators are possible and often lead to settlements.
• How long do we have to file a lawsuit? Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions exist. Time is critical as evidence vanishes.
• Will our name be public? Most cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy throughout the process.
• What does it cost? We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Why Attorney911 for Your Knollwood Family’s Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand both the profound personal trauma and the complex legal battlefield. As Texas-based hazing litigation specialists, we bring a unique combination to the table:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are not theorists. We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We know what it takes to fight a major university and national fraternity right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We use their playbook against them.
• Proven Institutional Litigators: 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 and are not intimidated by deep-pocketed universities or national organizations.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, utilizing public records and investigative resources to identify every potentially liable entity—from local house corporations to national headquarters.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Hablamos Español. We are committed to serving all Texas families.
• Empathetic, Victim-Centered Advocacy: We guide families through this nightmare with compassion, keeping you informed at every step. We fight for accountability to prevent this from happening to another family in Knollwood or anywhere else.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to answers, accountability, and securing your child’s future begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD / Attorney911 today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For families in Knollwood, Sherman, and throughout Grayson County, we offer a compassionate, confidential review of your situation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you decide the best path forward for your family. There is no cost for the consultation, and no obligation to hire us.

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

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 law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez UH Case: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Attorney911 Video – Evidence Preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Attorney911 Video – Statute of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Attorney911 Video – Client Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 Video – Contingency Fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com