The Comprehensive Guide to Hazing Lawsuits for Families in Kosse, Texas: Standing Against Campus Abuse and Fraternity Negligence Across the Lone Star State

We understand the immense pride and hope you place in your child’s college experience. From the Friday night lights of Kosse to the dorm rooms of campuses across Texas, you want them to find community, purpose, and a bright future. But for some families right here in Limestone County, that dream turns into a nightmare when hazing enters the picture. Today, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, and we want every family in Kosse, Marquez, Groesbeck, and across Central Texas to understand their rights and the power of true accountability.

Right now, our firm represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 fraternity leaders. The allegations are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and a brutal workout on November 3, 2025, that led to over 100 push-ups and 500 squats. This abuse caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he could not stand without help, and he was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. As reported in the Click2Houston investigation and ABC13 coverage, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and then voted to surrender its charter, while UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This case is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a systemic problem that touches every corner of Texas Greek life. If your child has been hurt in connection with a fraternity, sorority, Corps of Cadets program, athletic team, or spirit group at any Texas campus, this guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the full weight of Texas law, and how our data-driven approach to hazing litigation seeks justice for families like yours from Kosse to Houston and beyond.

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.”
• 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 or sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears fast. We can help you preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about paddling or silly pranks. It is a calculated, often digitally-coordinated pattern of abuse designed to assert power and create loyalty through fear and degradation. For families in Kosse sending students to Sam Houston State, Blinn College, Texas A&M, or other Texas universities, understanding the modern landscape is critical.

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Psychological Control
This includes mandatory “study hours” that are actually interrogation sessions, being on-call 24/7 for errands for older members, forced use of humiliating nicknames, and social isolation from non-members. Digitally, it manifests as required constant monitoring of GroupMe or Slack, instant response demands, and location sharing via apps.

Tier 2: Harassing Hazing
This escalates to sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings,” food or water restriction, forced consumption of unpalatable substances (like hot sauce or excessive milk), and calisthenics as punishment (“smokings”). Public humiliation, such as being forced to wear degrading costumes or perform embarrassing acts, is common.

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
This is where students, like Leonel Bermudez, suffer catastrophic injuries. It includes forced or coerced alcohol consumption to the point of alcohol poisoning, physical beatings or paddling, dangerous physical “tests” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized assaults, and being exposed to extreme elements. The hazing in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case—with its simulated waterboarding, forced overeating, and extreme workouts leading to kidney failure—is a tragic, textbook example of Tier 3 abuse.

These acts occur in fraternities and sororities, but also within athletic teams, spirit organizations like cheerleading, marching bands, Corps of Cadets programs, and other campus clubs. The common thread is a power imbalance and a twisted notion of “tradition.”

The Texas Legal Framework: Your Rights Under State Law

Texas has clear statutes designed to protect your child. Understanding them is the first step toward holding perpetrators accountable.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F – The Hazing Law
The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in an organization that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student. This applies on or off campus.

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) is explicit: a victim’s “consent” to the activity is not a defense. Courts recognize that true consent cannot exist under peer pressure and coercion.
• Individual & Organizational Liability: Both the individuals who commit the acts and the organization that authorized or knowingly allowed them can be held criminally and civilly liable.
• Immunity for Reporting: Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek medical assistance are immune from civil liability and student discipline under the law, a critical protection for bystanders.

Civil Liability: The Path to Justice and Compensation
A criminal case, pursued by the state, seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit, which we file on behalf of victims and families, seeks compensation for damages and accountability. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we can pursue claims against:

• The individual students who planned and executed the hazing.
• The local fraternity or sorority chapter.
• The national fraternity or sorority headquarters (for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies).
• The university (for negligent supervision, Title IX violations, Clery Act violations).
• Housing corporations and property owners.

Federal Laws: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, federal Title IX protections are triggered. The Clery Act requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults. The recently passed Stop Campus Hazing Act will soon require more transparent reporting of hazing incidents by universities that receive federal funds.

The National Playbook: How Past Tragedies Inform Texas Cases

The heartbreaking cases that make national headlines are not random; they are patterns. These patterns establish that national organizations and universities are on notice about the deadly risks of specific rituals.

• The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021), Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017), and Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017) all died after forced drinking during “Big/Little” or bid acceptance events. Their cases show national fraternities were acutely aware of this risk.
• The Physical Endurance Pattern: Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013) died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual. This shows the foreseeable danger of violent physical hazing.
• The Institutional Failure Pattern: The Northwestern University football hazing scandal (2023-2025) revealed systemic, sexualized abuse that coaches allegedly ignored. This mirrors the failures we see when universities prioritize reputation over student safety.

For a family in Kosse, these national cases are not just news stories. They are legal precedents. They demonstrate foreseeability—that these national organizations knew or should have known their chapters were at high risk for these exact types of injuries. When we investigate a case at a Texas school, we subpoena the national headquarters’ records to uncover their knowledge of these patterns and their failure to act.

The Texas Campus Landscape: Where Kosse Families Send Their Students

Families in Kosse and Limestone County have deep connections to Texas higher education. Students often commute to nearby schools or head to major universities across the state. Wherever they are, Greek life and campus organizations are present.

For Kosse families, the collegiate landscape includes:

• Regional & Nearby Campuses: Sam Houston State University (Huntsville), Blinn College (Brenham and Bryan campuses), Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Killeen), and the University of Texas at Tyler.
• Major Statewide Hubs: It is common for Kosse students to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University in Waco, and the University of Houston.

Each of these schools has a documented history of hazing incidents and disciplinary actions. For instance, Texas A&M has faced lawsuits over severe chemical burns in a Sigma Alpha Epsilon case and degrading hazing within its Corps of Cadets. The University of Texas at Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, listing sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and strenuous calisthenics. Our active case at the University of Houston is a stark, current example of how swiftly a situation can become life-threatening.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Texas Public Records Directory

One of our key investigative advantages is the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database built from thousands of public records. We don’t start from scratch; we start with data. This allows us to identify every potentially liable entity behind a fraternity or sorority—from the local chapter to the national housing corporation.

For Kosse families, it’s important to know that when your child joins “XYZ Fraternity” at Texas A&M, they are not just joining a local club. They are becoming part of a network of legal entities that may include:

A Sample of Texas-Registered Greek Organizations (From IRS B83 Public Filings):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc | EIN: 13-3048786 | College Station, TX 77845
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter) | EIN: 47-5370943 | Houston, TX 77204
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi | EIN: 74-6047117 | Austin, TX 78705
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter | EIN: 74-6084905 | Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc | EIN: 74-1380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Texas A&M Chapter) | EIN: 90-0293166 | College Station, TX 77843
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Epsilon Kappa Chapter) | EIN: 74-6064445 | Nederland, TX 77627

Statewide, our engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. In the Austin-Round Rock metro, which serves as a hub for Central Texas, there are 154 such entities. This data is crucial because it helps us locate insurance policies, assets, and the full chain of responsibility. When we took on the Bermudez case, we immediately identified not just the UH chapter, but the specific housing corporation (based in Frisco, TX) and the national headquarters as defendants.

Building a Unbeatable Case: Our Investigative & Legal Strategy

When you choose our firm, you are choosing a team with a unique blend of insider knowledge and relentless investigative skill.

1. Evidence Collection in the Digital Age:
We act swiftly to preserve evidence before it vanishes. This includes:

• Digital Forensics: Recovering deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram messages that plan, execute, or brag about hazing.
• Social Media Analysis: Archiving posts, stories, and videos that document events or injuries.
• Internal Documents: Subpoenaing chapter “pledge books,” national risk management manuals, and university conduct reports.
• Witness Coordination: Safely interviewing other pledges, former members, and roommates who may be afraid to come forward alone.

2. Damages: Understanding the True Cost of Hazing
We work with medical experts, economists, and life-care planners to build a comprehensive picture of your child’s losses, which can include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical bills, lost tuition, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the worst cases, we seek justice for families to cover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and their profound emotional suffering.

3. Overcoming the Defense Playbook:
We know how national fraternities and universities fight back. They use insurance coverage arguments, claim the activity was “optional,” or blame the victim. Our experience is our advantage.

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how they value claims, use delay tactics, and argue exclusions. We use this insider knowledge to maximize your recovery. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background on his profile page.
• Experience Against Giants: 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 institutions or their high-priced defense teams. We have the federal court experience and resources to fight them at every turn.

Practical Guidance for Kosse Parents & Students

If You Suspect Hazing:

• Talk to your child calmly and without judgment. Ask specific questions about their activities, sleep schedule, and whether they feel pressured.
• Look for warning signs: unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden personality changes, secrecy around phone use, withdrawal from family and old friends, and declining grades.
• Document everything they tell you with dates and details.

If Hazing Has Occurred:

1. Prioritize Health: Seek immediate medical attention and follow all treatment plans. Tell medical providers the injuries are from hazing.
2. Preserve Evidence: Follow our guide in our video on using your phone to document evidence. Do not delete anything.
3. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. However, be aware that universities often launch “internal investigations” designed to limit liability. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
4. Contact a Lawyer Immediately: Do not wait for the university to complete its process. Evidence disappears, witnesses are coached, and statutes of limitations are ticking. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations here.

Why The Manginello Law Firm is Your Advocate

We are not a personal injury firm that occasionally handles hazing cases. We are complex litigation specialists who apply our decades of experience fighting powerful institutions—from refineries to national insurance companies—to the unique battlefield of campus hazing.

• We Are Already in the Fight: Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is a current, high-stakes example of our commitment and capability.
• We Are Data-Driven: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us an investigative head start no other firm can match.
• We Have the Right Team: With Ralph Manginello’s federal court and catastrophic injury experience and Lupe Peña’s insurance defense insight, we build cases designed to win at trial, which forces better settlements.
• We Serve Texas Families: From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve communities across Texas, including Kosse and all of Limestone County. We understand Texas values, Texas courts, and the Texas schools your children attend.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers; you deserve dedicated advocates who will stand with you.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. See how our contingency fees work.

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

• Call our Legal Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
• Email our attorneys directly: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Let us help you demand accountability, secure the resources needed for healing, and prevent this from happening to another family in our Texas community.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston (KPRC 2): 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 Eyewitness News (KTRK): https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Firm Website & Contact:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. If you need legal assistance, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC directly for a consultation.