A Complete Guide to Hazing, Accountability, and Your Rights: For Families in Pleasant Valley, Texas

A quiet evening in Pleasant Valley is shattered by a phone call. Your child, who you sent to a Texas university full of promise, is in the hospital. The story is confusing—vague mentions of a “pledge event,” forced drinking, and an injury that doesn’t match the clumsy accident they’re describing. You feel a cold dread, the instinct that something is deeply wrong, that the smiling photos from Bid Day hid a dangerous reality. You are not alone. Right now, families across Wichita County and the North Texas region are facing the nightmare of campus hazing, often feeling isolated and uncertain where to turn.

This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and concerned community members of Pleasant Valley. We will explain what hazing truly looks like today, the specific laws that protect Texas students, and the real legal pathways to accountability. We will use a current, devastating case from the University of Houston—one we are handling right now—to show how these tragedies unfold and how they can be fought. Our goal is to equip you with knowledge and to show that the experienced, Texas-based legal team at Attorney911 is ready to stand with Pleasant Valley families.

If you are in crisis right now, call 911 for medical emergencies. Then, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We provide immediate help—that’s why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

What is Hazing in 2025? Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in our tight-knit Pleasant Valley community, “hazing” might conjure images of outdated pranks. The reality in modern Greek life, athletic teams, and campus organizations is far more sinister and systematic. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. It’s not “boys will be boys”; it’s often calculated abuse.

It takes many forms, often escalating from psychological pressure to physical danger:

• Subtle Hazing: Mandatory “servitude” like all-night driving for members, forced errands, carrying humiliating items (like the “pledge fanny packs” in the UH case), social isolation, and sleep deprivation.
• Harassment Hazing: Verbal abuse and intimidation, being forced to consume unpalatable substances (like hot dogs, milk, and peppercorns until vomiting), and extreme, punitive calisthenics.
• Violent Hazing: This is where lives are shattered. It includes forced alcohol consumption to the point of poisoning, physical beatings or paddling, dangerous rituals, sexualized humiliation, and being subjected to elements like cold weather in minimal clothing.

A critical point for Texas families: Consent is not a defense. Under Texas law, a student “agreeing” to participate under the immense pressure of wanting to belong does not make the activity legal or acceptable.

The Texas Legal Framework: Your Child’s Rights in Wichita County and Beyond

Texas takes a firm stance against hazing through Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F. For a Pleasant Valley family, understanding these laws is the first step toward justice.

1. It’s a Crime: Hazing is a criminal offense. It can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing they knew about.
2. Civil Liability is Separate: A criminal case is brought by the state. A civil lawsuit is filed by the victim and family to seek compensation for medical bills, trauma, and long-term damages. These cases can proceed even without criminal charges.
3. Who Can Be Held Responsible? Liability often extends beyond the individual who caused harm. We investigate and build cases against:
   • The individual students who planned and executed the hazing.
   • The local fraternity, sorority, or chapter leadership.
   • The National Fraternity or Sorority Headquarters that often has prior knowledge of such patterns.
   • The University for negligent supervision or failure to act on known dangers.
   • Property owners of off-campus houses where hazing occurs.
4. Immunity for Reporting: Texas law encourages help-seeking. A person who in good faith reports hazing or calls 911 in a medical emergency is generally immune from university sanctions and certain legal liabilities, even if they were drinking underage.

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

To understand the gravity and legal complexity, look no further than the case we are actively litigating. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge.

The hazing was systematic and brutal, including:

• A degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule.
• Forced, extreme physical workouts at locations like Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints.

The result was not just a rough night. Leonel developed rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces a risk of permanent kidney damage. The chapter has been shut down, but the legal fight for full accountability against the university, the national fraternity, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members continues.

This case is not an isolated horror story from a far-away campus. It is a Texas case, governed by the same laws that protect your child, and it demonstrates the level of institutional investigation and litigation tenacity required to seek justice. You can read the detailed coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13.

Where Pleasant Valley Students Go: The Local Campus Landscape

Pleasant Valley families have deep ties to Texas higher education. Our children attend prestigious schools across the state, each with its own Greek life and organizational culture where hazing can occur.

• Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls): As our closest major university, MSU is a direct concern for Wichita County. It has active fraternities and sororities, and its proximity means many local students live at home while participating in campus life. Understanding MSU’s specific conduct policies and reporting channels is crucial.
• Texas A&M University: Many North Texas students are drawn to Aggieland and its powerful traditions, including the Corps of Cadets and a vast Greek system. The Corps has faced its own hazing lawsuits, and fraternities like Sigma Alpha Epsilon have been sued for incidents causing severe chemical burns.
• University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains a public hazing violations log, a transparency tool that shows recurring issues with everything from spirit groups to IFC fraternities being sanctioned for forced drinking and physical abuse.
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock): A major destination for our region’s students, Texas Tech has a significant Greek community. National histories of hazing from fraternities present on its campus create foreseeable risks.
• Other Texas Schools: From the University of Houston to Baylor, SMU, and beyond, the national organizations present on these campuses have documented, repeated patterns of hazing incidents across the country.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Network of Responsibility

When your child is harmed by “Phi Kappa Sigma” or “Alpha Delta Pi,” you are not just up against a group of college students. You are facing a network of legally structured entities with insurance policies and defense attorneys. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks this complex landscape.

For example, public records show numerous Texas-registered entities supporting Greek life. These aren’t just social clubs; they are formal organizations with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and legal addresses, such as:

• KAPPA SIGMA – MU GAMMA CHAPTER INC (EIN 273662583) in Lufkin, TX
• GAMMA IOTA CHAPTER OF GAMMA PHI BETA SORORITY INC (EIN 751225585) in Wichita Falls, TX
• BETA NU PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION INC (EIN 462267515) in Frisco, TX
• TEXAS KAPPA SIGMA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC (EIN 741380362) in Fort Worth, TX

Why does this matter? Because liability and insurance coverage often flow through these specific legal entities. Knowing exactly who to hold accountable—from the local house corporation to the national headquarters—is the first strategic step in building a powerful case.

Practical Steps for Pleasant Valley Parents: What to Do Right Now

If you suspect or discover hazing, time is your most critical asset. Evidence disappears quickly as groups close ranks.

1. Prioritize Health & Safety: If there is any medical concern, call 911 or go to the ER. Tell medical staff the truth about what caused the injuries.
2. Preserve Evidence IMMEDIATELY:
   • Screenshot Everything: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text threads, and social media DMs. Capture full conversations with names and timestamps.
   • Photograph Injuries: Take clear, dated photos of any bruises, burns, or other injuries from multiple angles.
   • Write a Narrative: Have your child write down everything they remember: dates, times, locations, names of individuals involved, and what was said and done.
   • Secure Physical Items: Do not wash clothing that may have stains; keep any items involved (like paddles, if safe to obtain).
3. Understand Reporting Options: You can report to campus police (like the MSU Police Department), the university’s Dean of Students office, and local law enforcement. The National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) is an anonymous resource.
4. Consult an Attorney Before You:
   • Make formal statements to the university or insurance adjusters.
   • Sign any documents from the school or fraternity.
   • Allow your child to attend “one last meeting” with the group.
5. Know the Mistakes That Can Harm a Case: We’ve detailed common pitfalls in our video on Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.

Why Attorney911 for Pleasant Valley Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand both the heart of Texas communities and the hard-nosed reality of institutional litigation. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) is not a distant national brand; we are Texas attorneys with the specific expertise to fight for you.

• Insider Knowledge of the Defense Playbook: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large national firms. He knows precisely how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and devalue your claim. We use their own tactics against them. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background on his profile page.
• Proven Against Goliaths: Founding attorney Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by powerful universities or national fraternities with deep pockets; we have a proven record of taking them on. See Ralph’s experience on his bio page.
• Texas-Focused Investigation: We deploy our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records tracking Greek organizations across the state—to map liability and identify all responsible parties from the outset.
• Full-Spectrum Advocacy: With Mr. Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand the intersection of criminal and civil hazing cases. We can guide families through both processes and protect witnesses.
• Compassionate, Local Understanding: We serve Texas families from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We understand the values of communities like Pleasant Valley and the profound betrayal felt when trusted institutions fail to protect our children.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Conversation

If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path forward begins with a conversation focused on your unique situation.

We offer a free, confidential consultation to every family. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal landscape and your potential options.
• Discuss how we investigate, using tools like digital forensics to recover deleted evidence.
• Answer your questions about the process, timeline, and our contingency-fee structure (you pay nothing unless we win).

Contact Attorney911 Today:
Call our 24/7 line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
Hablamos Español: Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language services.

For the parents of Pleasant Valley and all of Texas: Let our experience be your strength. Together, we can seek justice for your child, hold powerful organizations accountable, and help prevent this from happening to another family in our community.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique, and you should consult with a qualified attorney about your specific situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi 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 of the Leonel Bermudez lawsuit: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Attorney911 Video on Evidence Preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Attorney911 Video on Client Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com