The McCulloch County Family’s Guide to Texas Hazing Lawsuits: Holding Fraternities, Sororities & Universities Accountable

A Message for Families in McCulloch County, Brady, and Across the Texas Heartland

Your child went off to college filled with hope—to make lifelong friends, excel academically, and build a bright future. The phone call from a hospital in College Station, Austin, or Houston was the last call you ever expected. Your son or daughter, a student from right here in McCulloch County, was found unconscious after a fraternity event, or is being treated for severe kidney failure from an extreme physical hazing ritual, or is too traumatized to return to campus after degrading abuse from a sorority or spirit group.

You feel lost. The university is speaking in cautious, bureaucratic terms. The fraternity’s national headquarters has issued a generic statement about “zero tolerance.” Fellow students are closing ranks. You’re searching for answers, accountability, and a way to ensure your child’s physical and emotional recovery comes first. You are not alone, and you do not have to navigate this crisis without experienced, dedicated legal help.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD, known as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We are Texas-based complex litigation attorneys who represent families like yours in the most serious hazing cases. Right now, we are leading a landmark $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity—a case that shows exactly how we fight for victims and hold every responsible party accountable. This guide is written specifically for families in McCulloch County, Brady, Rochelle, Lohn, and throughout our region who need to understand the reality of modern hazing, Texas law, and the path to justice.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger or seriously injured RIGHT NOW:

1. Call 911 for medical emergencies.
2. Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance, 24/7.

In the First 48 Hours:

• Get Medical Attention: Go to the ER. Document everything. Tell doctors the injuries resulted from hazing.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical items. Do not delete anything.
• Document: Write down everything your child remembers—names, dates, locations, what happened.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
  • Discuss details on public social media.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately: Evidence disappears within days. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation to protect your child’s rights and begin building a case.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not a relic of the past or simple “horseplay.” It is a calculated, often violent, system of abuse designed to exert control and force conformity. For families in McCulloch County whose children may be hours away at a major Texas university, understanding the modern face of hazing is critical. Today’s hazing often leaves digital fingerprints but is disguised with euphemisms like “team building,” “tradition,” or “pledge education.”

The Three Tiers of Hazing Abuse

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing – The Gateway
This creates a power imbalance and conditions new members for worse abuse. It includes forced servitude (like being an on-call chauffeur for members), carrying humiliating “pledge packs,” social isolation, being subjected to derogatory names, and constant monitoring via group chats that demand instant replies at all hours.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing – The Degradation
This causes emotional and physical distress. It includes sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions,” food/water restriction, forced consumption of vile substances (spoiled milk, hot sauce), public humiliation, and extreme, punitive calisthenics masquerading as “workouts.”

Tier 3: Violent Hazing – Where Lives Are Changed or Ended
This involves acts with a high probability of severe injury or death. This tier includes:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: The leading cause of hazing deaths. “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, and lineups where pledges are forced to finish entire bottles.
• Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking, or dangerous “rituals” like blindfolded tackling.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and sexual assault.
• Extreme Environmental Exposure: Being locked in freezing rooms, left outside in extreme weather, or subjected to chemical burns.

The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

This active, $10 million lawsuit filed in late 2025 exemplifies violent Tier 3 hazing and is the case we are litigating right now. It serves as a critical warning for all Texas families.

The Hazing: Leonel Bermudez, a UH transfer student pledging Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter, was subjected to months of abuse. This included carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7, forced chauffeuring, sleep deprivation, and extreme physical hazing at the chapter house, an off-campus residence on Culmore Drive, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. Rituals involved being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” lying in vomit-soaked grass, and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by sprints.

The Medical Catastrophe: On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats. Days later, he collapsed, passing brown urine. He was hospitalized for four days and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, facing a risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Institutional Response & Our Lawsuit: We filed suit against 17 defendants: the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was suspended and its charter surrendered. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is a blueprint for holding every entity in the chain of command accountable.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for McCulloch County Families

The Texas Education Code: Hazing is a Crime

Texas law (Chapter 37, Subchapter F of the Education Code) provides a strong framework. For parents in McCulloch County, understanding this is the first step.

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group. Location does not matter—on or off-campus activities are covered.
• 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.
• Critical Protections:
  1. Consent is NOT a Defense: It does not matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure.
  2. Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing or call for medical help in an emergency are generally protected from prosecution related to that reporting.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Recovery

A criminal case punishes the perpetrator. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, seeks to compensate the victim and hold all negligent parties accountable. The defendants can include:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned and executed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organization that authorized or allowed the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite known patterns of hazing.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to a known risk, or violating duties under Title IX or the Clery Act.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

The Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, and Clery

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX obligations are triggered, creating another avenue for university accountability.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Blueprints for Texas Justice

The tragedies that have made national headlines are not anomalies; they are patterns. These cases establish legal precedents and show juries the devastating consequences of institutional failure. They directly inform how we build cases for Texas families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911. The case led to 18 criminal convictions, a massive civil settlement, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing charges.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol; died days later. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from brain trauma during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

The Athletic & Program Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is endemic beyond Greek life.

What This Means for McCulloch County: These national patterns of forced drinking, cover-ups, and institutional neglect are the exact same scripts we see in Texas. They provide a road map for proving negligence and securing justice.

Texas University Focus: Where McCulloch County Families Send Their Kids

Parents in McCulloch County often have students at major universities across the state, from the nearby Texas A&M System to flagships like UT Austin. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

A Crucial Resource: The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine

To properly investigate hazing, you must identify every potentially liable organization. We maintain a proprietary database built from public records, tracking over 1,400 Greek-related entities across Texas. For example, our data shows:

Public Records: Texas Greek Organizations (Sample)

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University Chapter)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

This is a fraction of the directory we use to trace networks of house corporations, alumni chapters, and national affiliates to ensure no responsible entity escapes accountability.

University of Houston (UH)

The Landscape: A large, diverse commuter and residential campus with active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural).
Recent History: Beyond our Bermudez/Pi Kappa Phi case, UH has suspended chapters for alcohol-related hazing and physical abuse. The university maintains disciplinary records that can be crucial in litigation.
For McCulloch County Families: A student may attend UH for specific programs. Hazing incidents often occur at off-campus houses in Houston or nearby suburbs. Jurisdiction may involve both UHPD and Houston Police Department.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

The Landscape: A massive Greek life scene and the unique, tradition-rich Corps of Cadets program.
Recent History: Significant hazing allegations have emerged from both Greek and Corps contexts.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Lawsuit: Pledges alleged in 2021 they were covered in industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million in damages.
  For McCulloch County Families: College Station is a common destination. Cases here can involve complex interactions between university student conduct, Corps leadership, and local law enforcement in Brazos County.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

The Landscape: One of the nation’s largest and most transparent Greek life programs.
Recent History: UT maintains a public online log of hazing violations—a powerful tool for showing pattern.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced a 2024 lawsuit from an Australian exchange student alleging a brutal assault at a party, resulting in broken bones.
  For McCulloch County Families: UT’s public log can be used as direct evidence in court to show a chapter or university had prior knowledge of risky behavior.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

The Landscape: Prominent private universities with strong Greek influences and their own disciplinary processes.
Recent History: Both have faced hazing scandals in Greek life and athletics (e.g., Baylor baseball hazing suspensions in 2020). As private institutions, they have different liability exposures than public universities.
For McCulloch County Families: These schools represent significant financial investment. Holding them accountable requires attorneys familiar with navigating private university policies and insurance carriers.

Fraternity & Sorority National Histories: The Pattern of Foreseeability

When a chapter at UT, A&M, or UH hazes, it is rarely an isolated “rogue” act. National organizations have decades of incident data showing clear, repeating patterns. This history creates “foreseeability”—the legal principle that they knew or should have known this could happen. This is central to establishing their negligence.

Organizational Patterns (Illustrative)

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The national headquarters has faced multi-million dollar settlements after the Stone Foltz (Bowling Green) and David Bogenberger (Northern Illinois) deaths, both involving forced alcohol consumption during “Big/Little” events.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Has been involved in numerous high-profile hazing deaths and injuries nationwide, leading to the national organization banning the pledge period in 2014. Despite this, chapters like those at Texas A&M and UT Austin have faced severe allegations.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The death of Max Gruver at LSU exposed systemic alcohol hazing rituals. The national organization had prior knowledge of similar risks.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” event mirrors aspects of our UH case.

When we take a case, we subpoena the national organization’s records to uncover this pattern of prior incidents, internal warnings, and inadequate responses. This evidence is devastating in court and settlement negotiations.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

The Evidence That Wins Cases

Modern hazing leaves a digital trail. Preserving this is the single most important step a family can take.

1. Digital Communications: Screenshot EVERYTHING—GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram DMs, Snapchat chats, chapter apps. Capture full threads with timestamps and sender names.
2. Photos & Videos: Save any media from the event, even if it seems “just fun.” Document injuries with multiple photos over several days.
3. Medical Records: Obtain complete ER, hospital, and follow-up records. Ensure the connection to hazing is documented by the physician.
4. Physical Evidence: Do not wash clothing worn during the incident. Preserve any objects used (paddles, bottles, “pledge packs”).
5. Witness List: Compile names and contact information for other pledges, members, roommates, or RAs.

We have a detailed video guide on using your phone to document legal evidence.

Recoverable Damages: Making Families Whole

A civil lawsuit seeks to recover comprehensive damages to support a victim’s lifelong recovery.

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity if injuries are permanent, and educational costs (e.g., lost scholarships, transfer expenses).
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, courts may award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantage: Insider Knowledge

Our firm is uniquely equipped for these battles:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies evaluate claims, fight coverage, and employ delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a corporation with limitless resources. We apply the same rigorous investigation and fearless advocacy to hazing cases.
• Dual Civil/Criminal Insight: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil litigation, allowing us to advise clients comprehensively.

We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Learn more in our video, How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Practical Guides & FAQs for McCulloch County Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Prioritize Health & Safety: Get immediate medical and psychological care for your child.
2. Become a Documentarian: Preserve all digital and physical evidence. Write a detailed timeline.
3. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
4. Navigate the University: Document all communications. Understand that the university’s primary interest is risk management.
5. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Do not wait. As we explain in our video on statutes of limitations, Texas generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but evidence deteriorates daily.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Recognize Hazing: If you feel coerced, endangered, or humiliated to belong, it is hazing.
• Exit Safely: Your safety is paramount. You have the right to leave. If you feel in immediate danger, call 911.
• Report Anonymously: Most universities and the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) offer anonymous reporting options.
• Preserve Evidence: Even if you are scared, try to screenshot messages or take photos. This protects you and others.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

We detail this in our video on client mistakes that ruin injury cases. Key errors include:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority before preserving evidence.
• Providing a recorded statement to a university or insurance adjuster without an attorney.
• Signing a quick settlement or “resolution” agreement from the university without legal review.
• Posting details about the incident on social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes. While public universities have some immunity, you can sue for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or sue individual employees. Private universities like SMU and Baylor can also be held liable. Our wrongful death practice has extensive experience with these claims (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/).

Q: What if it happened off-campus at a rental house?
A: Location does not absolve liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible for activities of their recognized chapters. We trace ownership and insurance for off-campus properties.

Q: Will this ruin my child’s future or get them expelled?
A: Victims who report hazing are protected by Texas law’s immunity provisions. Universities are increasingly focused on supporting victims. Our goal is to protect your child’s future, not jeopardize it.

Q: How long will a case take?
A: It varies. Some cases resolve in months through negotiation; others may take years if litigation proceeds to trial. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial to maximize leverage for a fair settlement.

Why Attorney911 for McCulloch County Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion. You need attorneys who aren’t intimidated by national organizations or university legal teams. You need a firm that understands the unique culture of Texas campuses and the specific concerns of families from communities like McCulloch County.

We are that firm.

We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are complex litigation specialists who have taken on some of the largest institutional defendants in the country. We apply the full force of our experience—from BP Texas City to catastrophic trucking accidents—to hazing cases. We deploy a network of experts: medical specialists to document injuries, digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, economists to calculate lifelong impacts, and psychologists to assess trauma.

We fight for more than a settlement. We fight for accountability that forces change, for transparency that exposes cover-ups, and for justice that allows your family to heal.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university—whether at a fraternity at Texas A&M, a sorority at UT, the Corps, a spirit group at Baylor, or any campus organization—we are here to listen and help.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) today:

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

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

During your free consultation, we will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options in clear terms, and outline the path forward. There is no obligation, and everything you tell us is held in strict confidence.

You do not have to face this alone. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we stand with families across Texas, including those in McCulloch County, Brady, and throughout the Heartland. Call us. Let’s get your child the help, justice, and future they deserve.

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. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD for a consultation.