Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Mabank Families Seeking Justice & Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

For parents in Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Eustace, and across Kaufman County, sending your child to college is a milestone filled with pride. You imagine them building a future at schools like the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, or Baylor. The reality of dangerous hazing rituals—forced drinking, physical abuse, psychological torment—can shatter that dream in an instant. Right now, in Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of a student and his family. This guide is for every Mabank family who needs to understand what hazing truly is, how Texas law protects victims, and where to turn when trust is broken.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

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). We provide immediate help—that’s why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours, critical steps include:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek evaluation. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items involved. Do not let your child delete anything.
3. Document Everything: Write down names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, or post details on social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears rapidly. We can help secure it and protect your family’s rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless tradition. Under Texas law, it is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization. For Mabank families, understanding the modern face of hazing is the first step in recognizing it.

Alcohol & Substance Hazing: This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced consumption during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights, or drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mandate drinking. The goal is often rapid, extreme intoxication.

Physical Hazing: This extends beyond paddling to include extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings”), sleep deprivation for days, exposure to extreme elements, forced consumption of inedible or excessive food (like gallons of milk or raw onions), and dangerous physical tests.

Psychological & Digital Hazing: This is increasingly prevalent and insidious. It involves systematic humiliation, verbal abuse, isolation, and coercive control through technology. Pledges may be required to carry degrading “fanny packs,” respond instantly to all-hours group chats, share their live location, or post humiliating content on social media.

Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Acts include forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, demeaning costumes, and rituals designed to inflict shame and degradation, sometimes with racist or homophobic overtones.

Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, Corps of Cadets programs, marching bands, and other campus organizations. Its core elements are coercion, power imbalance, and secrecy.

Texas Hazing Law & Your Family’s Rights: A Plain-English Guide

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, primarily found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. For families in Mabank and across Kaufman County, understanding this framework is crucial.

The Legal Definition: Hazing is defined broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging or affiliation, that:

• Endangers the physical health or safety of the student; OR
• Seriously affects the mental health or safety of the student.

Critical Legal Points for Parents:

• Consent is NOT a Defense (Texas Education Code § 37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for those who hazed them. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• It Can Be a Felony: Hazing that causes “serious bodily injury” or death is a state jail felony. Lesser injuries can lead to misdemeanor charges.
• Organizations Can Be Liable: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can face criminal fines up to $10,000 and civil liability.
• Good-Faith Reporting is Protected: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to authorities are generally immune from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement (like underage drinking).

Criminal vs. Civil Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish wrongdoing with jail time, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims and their families to obtain compensation for damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. This is where families can recover for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil case.

Federal Laws That Apply:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and bolster prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX procedures and remedies may apply.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

A Texas Case in Focus: Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

To understand the severity and legal complexity of modern hazing, look no further than a case unfolding right now in Harris County. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered life-altering injuries during his pledge period to the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter in fall 2025.

The Hazing Conduct: The lawsuit alleges a regime of systematic abuse. Mr. Bermudez was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing humiliating items. He endured forced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and hours-long interrogations. The physical hazing included extreme workouts at locations like Yellowstone Boulevard Park, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

The Medical Catastrophe: On November 3, 2025, after being forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats, Mr. Bermudez’s body began to break down. Days later, he was rushed to the hospital, passing brown urine. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. He faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Institutional Response & Lawsuit: The Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025, shutting down the chapter. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County against 13 individual fraternity leaders, the Pi Kappa Phi national organization, its housing corporation, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

This case is a stark example for every Mabank family: hazing is not a distant problem. It happens at our state’s major institutions, causing catastrophic harm. The detailed media coverage is essential reading: the Click2Houston report on the UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case and the ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit.

The Greek Ecosystem Surrounding Mabank & Kaufman County Families

When a hazing incident occurs, liability rarely stops with the individual students directly involved. A complex network of organizations often shares responsibility. At Attorney911, we maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a deep directory of public records on Greek-life entities across the state. This allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable parties, from local house corporations to national headquarters.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Relevant to Texas Families

Parents in Mabank deserve to know who stands behind the organizations connected to their children. The following are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations, as recorded in public IRS and other filings. This is a fraction of the data we maintain to investigate hazing cases.

Texas-Wide Snapshot (Examples from Public Filings):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc. | EIN: 13-3048786 | 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation | EIN: 37-1768785 | 4102 Eastshore St, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. | EIN: 46-2267515 | 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Texas Eta | EIN: 82-4398421 | 1305 FM 359 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. | EIN: 74-1380362 | PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi | EIN: 90-0293166 | 114 Henderson Hall 4233 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 filing – Texas A&M University)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi | EIN: 74-6047117 | 2620 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing – UT Austin area)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter | EIN: 74-6084905 | 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing – UH area)

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Area (Over 500 Greek entities):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity | Fort Worth, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation | Fort Worth, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter | Fort Worth, TX – TCU (Cause IQ metro listing)

Understanding the Network: These entities represent housing corporations that own chapter houses, alumni associations, educational foundations, and active chapters. When hazing occurs, we investigate the entire structure: Who owned the property? Who provided the insurance? Which national organization set the policies? This comprehensive approach is how we build maximum leverage for our clients.

Where Mabank & Kaufman County Families Send Their Kids: Campus Connections

Students from our community attend universities across Texas. Hazing risks exist at large state schools and private institutions alike. Here are key campuses with active Greek life where local families often have children.

Major Statewide Hubs:

• University of Houston (UH) – Houston, Harris County
• Texas A&M University – College Station, Brazos County
• University of Texas at Austin (UT) – Austin, Travis County
• Texas State University – San Marcos, Hays County
• University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, Denton County
• Texas Tech University – Lubbock, Lubbock County

Other Notable Texas Universities:

• Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, Dallas County (Private)
• Baylor University – Waco, McLennan County (Private)
• Texas Christian University (TCU) – Fort Worth, Tarrant County (Private)
• Sam Houston State University – Huntsville, Walker County
• Stephen F. Austin State University – Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County

Regional Campuses Near Kaufman County:

• University of Texas at Tyler – Tyler, Smith County
• Texas A&M University-Commerce – Commerce, Hunt County
• University of Texas at Dallas – Richardson, Dallas County

Each of these campuses has its own Greek life ecosystem, documented hazing incidents, and internal disciplinary history. For example, UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, while Texas A&M has faced significant cases involving both fraternities and its Corps of Cadets.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Patterns & Local Chapters

The fraternity or sorority your child is rushing is almost certainly part of a national organization with a history. This history is critical in litigation because it establishes foreseeability—the national group knew or should have known these dangerous rituals were likely to occur.

National Hazing Histories That Inform Texas Cases:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): The 2021 death of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University (forced alcohol consumption) led to a $10+ million settlement. This national pattern informs cases involving Pike chapters in Texas.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): This fraternity has faced numerous hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide, including a traumatic brain injury case at the University of Alabama and a chemical burns lawsuit at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: The 2017 death of Max Gruver at LSU (alcohol poisoning from a “Bible study” game) led to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” and a $6.1 million verdict.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The 2017 death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” event.
• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI): The 2021 case of Danny Santulli at the University of Missouri, who suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking, resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements with over 20 defendants.

When a chapter at UH, Texas A&M, or UT repeats these same dangerous patterns, it demonstrates that the national organization failed to implement or enforce effective risk management policies. We use this pattern evidence to hold nationals accountable.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Pursuing a hazing case requires a strategic, evidence-driven approach. Universities and national fraternities have dedicated legal teams. Families need an advocate with equal sophistication and resources.

Critical Evidence We Secure:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and social media DMs are the modern record of hazing. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages and metadata.
2. Media & Photos: Videos and pictures taken by participants often surface on phones or cloud backups.
3. Internal Chapter Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” binders, meeting minutes, and emails.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same organization, Clery Act reports, and internal investigation files obtained through discovery.
5. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to hazing events is paramount.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and advisors.

Our Investigative Advantage: Our experience in complex litigation like the BP Texas City explosion case taught us how to investigate powerful institutions. We know how to follow the money, insurance, and paper trail. Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney (he/him) is invaluable; he knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny or minimize claims.

Damages in a Hazing Case: Families may recover compensation for:

• Economic Damages: All medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, lost educational costs, and diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unspeakable event of a death, families can seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and their own emotional suffering.

Practical Steps for Mabank Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs & Action:

• Watch For: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes, sudden secrecy about organization activities, constant phone anxiety, declining grades, and requests for large sums of money.
• Talk to Your Child: Ask open-ended questions. “What does being a pledge actually involve?” “Is there anything that’s made you uncomfortable?” Reassure them your primary concern is their safety.
• If You Suspect Hazing: Document everything. Seek medical care. Contact an attorney before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child from retaliation and preserve evidence. Watch our video on using your cellphone to document a legal case.

For Students – Your Safety & Rights:

• Trust Your Instincts: If it feels dangerous, degrading, or coercive, it probably is hazing.
• Know Your Exit: You have the right to leave. Your safety is more important than any organization.
• Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots, photos of injuries, and save all communications. Do not delete anything.
• Report Safely: You can report to the Dean of Students, campus police, or anonymously through campus hotlines. Texas law offers protections for good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

• Deleting text messages or group chats.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly before consulting a lawyer.
• Signing university-offered settlement or resolution forms without legal advice.
• Posting details about the incident on social media.
• Waiting too long to take action, allowing evidence to disappear and statutes of limitations to run. Learn about deadlines in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Why Attorney911 is Uniquely Equipped to Fight for Mabank Hazing Victims

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need advocates who understand institutional power, insurance company tactics, and the complex dynamics of campus organizations.

Our Proven Advantage:

1. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows how they value claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We use this insight to counter their strategies from day one. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or wealthy national fraternities. We know how to build a case that forces accountability. Learn about Ralph Manginello’s experience.
3. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are currently leading the $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. This isn’t theoretical for us—it’s our active practice.
4. Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, incorporating thousands of public records on Greek organizations, means we don’t start from scratch. We know the organizational landscape and can immediately identify all potentially liable parties.
5. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish (Se habla Español), ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.
6. Contingency Fee Basis: We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Learn how this works in our video on contingency fees.

If Hazing Has Impacted Your Family in Mabank, Contact Us Today

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Mabank, Kaufman County, and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro region. We understand the profound trust you place in universities and the devastation that follows when that trust is betrayed through hazing.

We offer a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options under Texas law, and outline a potential path forward. There is no pressure to proceed. Our goal is to empower you with information and support.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today.

• Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• 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

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• https://attorney911.com

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 and university policies can change. The information here is current as of late 2025. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and evidence. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney to review your specific situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com