Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Richmond Families Seeking Accountability

For Richmond, Texas Families: When Greek Life Traditions Turn Dangerous

A University of Houston student from Fort Bend County lies in a hospital bed, his kidneys failing, as doctors confirm he has rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown caused by extreme physical hazing. His urine is brown. His parents, who raised him right here in the Richmond area, hold his hand, wondering how joining a fraternity could nearly kill their son. Meanwhile, in group chats that span across Texas campuses, similar scenes are being planned: forced drinking games, humiliating rituals, and physical “challenges” disguised as tradition.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. In November 2025, Richmond-area resident Leonel Bermudez filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 fraternity leaders and members. Attorney911—Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña—represents Bermudez in this ongoing case that has captured statewide attention.

If you are a parent in Richmond, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, or anywhere in Fort Bend County, this guide is for you. Your child may attend UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any of Texas’s major universities. What happened to Leonel Bermudez could happen to any student—including yours. This comprehensive resource explains what hazing really looks like today, how Texas law protects (or fails) students, what we’ve learned from national tragedies, and what legal options Richmond families have when tradition turns into trauma.

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, 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/sorority
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
  • Post details on public social media
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• Universities move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas Universities

Beyond “Harmless Traditions”—Modern Definitions

For Richmond families sending children to college, understanding what constitutes hazing is critical. Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Texas law specifically defines hazing under Education Code Chapter 37 as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers mental or physical health for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership.

The crucial point Richmond parents must understand: “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal. When there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion, what appears as consent is often coercion.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and most dangerous form. It includes forced or coerced drinking, chugging challenges, “lineup” drinking games, and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately required to do sprints.

Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, today’s physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), forced workouts far beyond normal conditioning, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme cold/heat. The UH case included 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills that left Bermudez unable to stand without help.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. At UH, pledges were required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items. Another pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming—both in person and digitally—fall into this category. The psychological damage can be as lasting as physical injuries.

Digital/Online Hazing
This is where hazing has evolved most dramatically. Group chat dares, social media “challenges,” pressure to create or share compromising images/videos, and 24/7 digital monitoring represent modern hazing’s frontier. When Richmond-area students are told they must respond instantly to messages at all hours or face punishment, that’s digital hazing.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

Richmond families should understand that hazing extends beyond stereotypes:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (especially at Texas A&M)
• Spirit Squads and Tradition Clubs (like Texas Cowboys at UT Austin)
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Service, Cultural, and Academic Organizations

The common thread: social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal. For Richmond students seeking belonging on large campuses, the pressure to participate can be overwhelming.

Texas Hazing Law: What Richmond Families Need to Know

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Foundation

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code that Richmond families must understand:

Definition (Section 37.151):
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Plain English Translation:
If someone makes your child do something dangerous, harmful, or degrading to join or stay in a group, and they meant to do it or were reckless about the risk, that’s hazing under Texas law.

Key Points for Richmond Families:

• Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
• Can be mental or physical harm
• Intent: Doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” is enough
• “Consent” is not a defense (Section 37.155): Even if the victim agreed, it’s still hazing if it meets the definition

Criminal Penalties (Section 37.152)

• Class B Misdemeanor (default): Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury that requires medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Additional Criminal Provisions:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member or officer and you knew about it): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports hazing: misdemeanor

Organizational Liability (Section 37.153)

Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be criminally prosecuted for hazing if:

• The org authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for organizations:

• Fine up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the org from campus

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (Section 37.154)

A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report. This is crucial for Richmond students who witness hazing but fear getting in trouble themselves.

Criminal vs Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical hazing-related criminal charges can include:
  • Hazing offenses
  • Furnishing alcohol to minors
  • Assault, battery, or even manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families (like the Bermudez family)
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on:
  • Negligence and gross negligence
  • Wrongful death
  • Negligent hiring/supervision
  • Premises liability
  • Emotional distress

Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case is primarily a civil lawsuit seeking compensation and accountability.

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

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges that receive federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen hazing education and prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026).

Title IX / Clery:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations can be triggered. Clery requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with those categories when there are assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

Individual Students:
The ones who planned, supplied the alcohol, carried out the acts, or helped cover them up.

Local Chapter / Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if it’s a legal entity). Individuals acting as officers or “pledge educators” can be key.

National Fraternity/Sorority:
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability can hinge on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents.

University or Governing Board:
The school or regents may be sued under certain negligence or civil-rights theories. Key questions: prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference.

Third Parties:
Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop theories), security companies or event organizers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Richmond Families Can Learn

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking. Severe falls captured on chapter cameras; hours delayed before medical help. Dozens of criminal charges against fraternity members; civil litigation; new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law named after him. Takeaway for Richmond families: Extreme intoxication, delay in calling 911, and a culture of silence can be legally devastating.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Big/little event; pledge given a handle of liquor; drank to dangerous levels; died. Criminal hazing charges against members; FSU temporarily suspended Greek life and overhauled policies. Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights are a repeating script for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
“Bible study” drinking game; forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. Death led to felony hazing law in Louisiana (Max Gruver Act). Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof of hazing.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Pledge night; forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey; died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions; BGSU agreed to nearly $3 million settlement with the family; other settlements with fraternity/individuals. Takeaway for Richmond parents: Universities can face significant financial and reputational consequences along with fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Pledge at a fraternity retreat subjected to a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual. Suffered fatal head injuries; help was delayed. Multiple members convicted; fraternity banned from Pennsylvania. Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous or worse than parties, and national orgs can face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits against the university, staff; head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired and later settled a wrongful-termination suit confidentially. Takeaway for Richmond families: Hazing is not limited to Greek life; big-money athletic programs can harbor systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for Richmond Families

Common threads: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed or denied medical care, cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often follow only after tragedy and litigation. Richmond families facing hazing at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor are not alone and are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons.

Texas Focus: Where Richmond Families Send Their Kids

The University of Houston: Closest Major Campus to Richmond

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
As the closest major research university to Richmond (just 30 miles away), UH attracts many Fort Bend County students. With over 47,000 students and active Greek life spanning multiple councils, UH represents both opportunity and risk for Richmond-area families. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates how quickly hazing can escalate at urban campuses.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
UH prohibits hazing whether on-campus or off-campus, specifically banning forced consumption of alcohol/food/drugs, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and mental distress as initiation. Reporting channels include the Dean of Students, conduct offices, and campus police. Following the Pi Kappa Phi incident, UH labeled the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement.

Documented Incident & Response – The Pi Kappa Phi Case:
The Leonel Bermudez case represents one of the most serious hazing incidents in recent Texas history. According to media coverage including the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case and ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit, Bermudez suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure requiring four-day hospitalization after extreme hazing that included:

• “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation with degrading contents
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Yellowstone Boulevard Park workouts that left another pledge unconscious

Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025. UH promised disciplinary action and cooperation with law enforcement.

How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed for Richmond Families:
Involved agencies may include UHPD and/or Houston Police Department, depending on location. Civil suits might be filed in Harris County courts. Potential defendants include individual students, the chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, potentially the university and property owners. The rapid chapter closure demonstrates how seriously institutions respond when faced with strong legal action.

What UH Students & Richmond Parents Should Do:

• Report immediately through UH channels (Dean of Students, UHPD, online forms)
• Document prior complaints and past incidents if known
• Contact a lawyer experienced in Houston-based hazing cases to uncover prior discipline and internal files
• Preserve all digital evidence before it’s deleted

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Many Richmond-area students choose Texas A&M for its strong academic programs and unique Corps of Cadets tradition. The combination of Corps culture and active Greek life creates multiple environments where hazing can occur.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021):
Two pledges alleged forced strenuous activity; substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. Pledges sued fraternity for $1 million; fraternity suspended for two years by university. This case, detailed in Hoodline’s summary of the $10M UH hazing lawsuit, shows how physical hazing can cause permanent injury.

Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023):
Cadet alleged degrading hazing, such as simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth; sought over $1 million; A&M stated it handled the matter under its rules.

How Cases Proceed at Texas A&M:
A&M handles hazing via Student Conduct and Corps regulations. Civil cases may focus on both Greek life and Corps traditions. For Richmond families, this means understanding both systems when investigating hazing incidents.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Tradition

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin’s public Hazing Violations page provides more transparency than many Texas schools, listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions. This resource is valuable for Richmond families researching organizations their children may join.

Documented Violations:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation and required to implement new hazing-prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers and other spirit organizations sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, or punishment-based practices.

How UT Cases Might Proceed:
UT cases may involve UTPD and Austin PD. Prior violations on UT’s public log can strongly support civil suits by showing patterns and knowledge. For Richmond students at UT, this transparency provides some protection but doesn’t eliminate risk.

Southern Methodist University: Private Campus Dynamics

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
SMU’s reputation as a private, affluent campus with strong Greek presence attracts some Richmond-area students. Private university status affects transparency but doesn’t eliminate accountability.

Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017):
New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended; restrictions on recruiting until around 2021.

Reporting and Accountability:
SMU’s hazing prevention efforts include reporting forms and anonymous systems. Civil suits can compel discovery even when internal reports aren’t publicly posted.

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Scrutiny

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Baylor’s religious identity and history of scrutiny over football and Title IX issues create a complex environment for hazing cases.

Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020):
14 players suspended following a hazing investigation; suspensions staggered over the early season.

Institutional Context:
Baylor’s policies, religious branding, and prior scandals interact with hazing and abuse claims in ways Richmond families should understand when considering legal action.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Richmond Families Need to Know

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Richmond Families

If you are a parent in Richmond, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below is a sampling of Texas-registered Greek organizations from public IRS filings and metro records. This directory demonstrates the complexity of the Greek ecosystem that Richmond students navigate.

Greater Houston Area Organizations (Relevant to Richmond Families):

Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation
EIN: 37-1768785 | Missouri City, TX 77459
IRS B83 filing – housing corporation

Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter
EIN: 74-6084905 | Houston, TX 77204
IRS B83 filing – chapter entity

Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Located: Houston, TX
Cause IQ metro listing – alumni/house corporation

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Houston Alumnae
Located: Houston, TX
Cause IQ metro listing – graduate chapter

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Alpha Kappa Omega
Located: Houston, TX
Cause IQ metro listing – graduate chapter

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter
Located: Houston, TX
Cause IQ metro listing – undergraduate chapter

Major Texas University Chapter Entities:

Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc
EIN: 13-3048786 | College Station, TX 77845
IRS B83 filing – Texas A&M chapter entity

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Rho Chapter
EIN: 81-2525354 | College Station, TX 77845
IRS B83 filing – Texas A&M chapter

Chi Omega Fraternity – House Corporation
EIN: 74-0555581 | Austin, TX 78705
IRS B83 filing – UT Austin housing corporation

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter
EIN: 92-1575785 | Fort Worth, TX 76109
IRS B83 filing – TCU/SMU area chapter

Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc
EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
IRS B83 filing – housing corporation (Note: This is the same national organization involved in the UH case)

Texas-Wide Snapshot:
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 188 in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro that serves Richmond families. These entities represent undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, honor societies, and educational foundations—all potentially relevant to hazing litigation.

Why National Histories Matter for Richmond Families

Many fraternities/sororities on Texas campuses are part of national organizations with documented hazing histories:

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike): Stone Foltz hazing death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement); national pattern of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE): Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide; traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama; chemical burns case at Texas A&M.

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver hazing death at LSU leading to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey hazing death at Florida State; currently sued in the UH Bermudez case.

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): Hazing suspensions including SMU chapter in 2017.

When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got another chapter shut down or sued in another state, that shows foreseeability and supports negligence arguments against national entities. For Richmond families, this means your child’s local chapter problems likely aren’t isolated—they’re part of national patterns that national headquarters knew or should have known about.

Universities Richmond Families Actually Send Their Kids To

Based on enrollment patterns and geographic proximity, Richmond students commonly attend:

Primary Destinations:

• University of Houston (closest major university)
• Texas A&M University (strong regional draw)
• University of Texas at Austin (flagship campus)
• Blinn College (transfer pathway to Texas A&M)
• Wharton County Junior College (local option)

Additional Texas Schools:

• Sam Houston State University
• Texas State University
• Baylor University
• Texas Tech University
• University of Texas at San Antonio

Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem, reporting procedures, and historical patterns of hazing incidents. Richmond families need campus-specific understanding when addressing hazing concerns.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for Richmond Families

Evidence Collection: The Digital Frontier

Digital Communications:
GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, fraternity apps—these are now the #1 source of hazing evidence. They show planning, intent, knowledge, pattern, who was involved, and what was said before/during/after. In the UH case, group chats likely contained planning discussions and aftermath conversations. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains best practices.

Photos & Videos:
Content filmed by members during events, shared in group chats or posted on social media. Security camera or Ring/doorbell footage at houses and venues. In physical hazing cases like Bermudez’s, photographic evidence of injuries is crucial.

Internal Organization Documents:
Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, ritual “traditions” lists, emails/texts from officers about “what we’ll do to pledges,” national policies and training materials. These documents often show pattern and institutional knowledge.

University Records:
Prior conduct files, probation/suspensions, letters of warning, incident reports to campus police or student conduct offices, Clery reports. For Richmond families, obtaining these records often requires legal action.

Medical and Psychological Records:
Emergency room and hospitalization records, surgery and rehab notes, toxicology reports, psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidality). Bermudez’s medical records showed critically high creatine kinase levels confirming rhabdomyolysis.

Witness Testimony:
Pledges, members, roommates, RAs, coaches, trainers, bystanders, former members who quit or were expelled. In large cases, witness testimony builds the complete picture.

Damages: What Richmond Families Can Recover

Medical Bills & Future Care:
Immediate care (ER, ICU), surgeries, ongoing treatment, physical therapy, medications, long-term care for brain injuries or organ damage. Bermudez faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

Lost Earnings / Educational Impact:
Missed semesters, setbacks in entering the workforce, reduced earning capacity if injuries are permanent. Many hazing victims must withdraw from school temporarily or permanently.

Non-Economic Damages:
Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life. These damages recognize that hazing harm extends beyond medical bills.

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):
Funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship and support, emotional harm to parents and siblings. While we hope no Richmond family experiences this, understanding these damages is important.

The Role of Different Defendants and Insurance Coverage

National fraternities and universities often have insurance policies that may come into play. Insurers sometimes argue that hazing or intentional acts are excluded, or that the policy doesn’t cover certain defendants. Experienced hazing lawyers identify all potential coverage sources and navigate disputes about exclusions and intentional conduct.

Understanding this complexity is why having an attorney with insurance insider knowledge—like Mr. Lupe Peña, who spent years as an insurance defense attorney—is crucial for Richmond families. We know how insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Richmond Families

For Richmond Parents: Warning Signs and Response

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries
• Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
• Sleep deprivation (constant late nights, calls at 3 AM)
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Fear of “getting in trouble” or “letting the chapter down”
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring

1. Grades dropping suddenly

How to Talk to Your Child:
Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?” “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?” “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?” Listen without judgment. If they shut down, don’t force it—but monitor closely.

If Your Child Is Hurt:
Get them medical care immediately. Document everything (photos of injuries, texts, what they tell you). Save names, dates, locations. Do NOT confront the organization directly—they may destroy evidence or retaliate.

Dealing with the University:
Document every communication with administrators. Ask specifically about prior incidents involving the same organization and what the school did or didn’t do in response. Remember: university process ≠ real accountability.

When to Talk to a Lawyer:
If your child has significant physical or psychological harm. If you feel the university or organization is minimizing or hiding what happened. If evidence is being destroyed or witnesses are being intimidated.

For Richmond Students / Pledges

Is This Hazing or Just Tradition?
If you feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced; if you’re forced to drink or endure pain; if the activity is hidden from the public or administrators—it probably is hazing.

Why “Consent” Isn’t the End of the Story
Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

Exiting and Reporting Safely
Strategies for leaving dangerous situations. How to report privately or anonymously (campus channels, anonymous tip lines). Remember that Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting.

Good-Faith Reporting and Amnesty
Many schools and laws encourage calling for help by offering protections when someone seeks aid in an emergency, even if they were also involved. Don’t let fear of getting in trouble prevent life-saving action.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages or “Clean Up” Evidence
What parents think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like a cover-up; can be obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible
What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly
What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare defenses
What to do instead: Document everything, then call a lawyer before any confrontation

3. Signing University “Release” or “Resolution” Forms
What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements
Why it’s wrong: You may waive your right to sue; settlements are often far below case value
What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without an attorney reviewing it first

4. Posting Details on Social Media Before Talking to a Lawyer
What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility; can waive privilege
What to do instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

5. Waiting “to See How the University Handles It”
What universities promise: “We’re investigating; let us handle this internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute of limitations runs, university controls narrative
What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

Short FAQ for Richmond Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case involves allegations that could support felony charges.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The Bermudez case proceeds despite any arguments about “voluntary” participation.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. Our video on Texas statutes of limitations explains deadlines in detail. Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. The UH case involved hazing at the Pi Kappa Phi house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park—all potentially off-campus locations. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability.

“Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Richmond Hazing Cases

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine in Action

When your Richmond family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. The Bermudez case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi demonstrates our active, serious hazing litigation capability right here in Texas.

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. As he stated in the ABC13 coverage: “If this prevents harm to another person…Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):
We’re one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—we’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) prepares us for complex hazing litigation.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury Experience:
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases with economist collaboration. We understand how to value lifetime care needs for brain injuries, permanent disabilities, and kidney damage like Bermudez suffered. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure, ensuring comprehensive legal strategy.

Investigative Depth with Digital Forensics:
We maintain a network of experts: medical professionals, digital forensics specialists, economists, psychologists. We know how to obtain hidden evidence—deleted group chats, chapter records, university files—that others might miss. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it, because it does.

Spanish-Language Services for Richmond’s Hispanic Community:
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families throughout Fort Bend County. Se habla Español—contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Our Data-Driven Approach to Hazing Cases

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros—isn’t just data. It’s how we identify every entity behind a chapter: house corporations, alumni organizations, national headquarters, insurance carriers. When we take a case like Bermudez’s, we already know how to find the organizations behind the letters and the insurance behind the organizations.

This investigative depth means Richmond families don’t start from zero. We understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families throughout Fort Bend County—from Richmond to Sugar Land to Rosenberg. We’ve seen firsthand how quickly “tradition” can turn into trauma, and we know how to hold the right people accountable.

Call to Action for Richmond Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Richmond, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, and throughout Fort Bend County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Lupe Peña)

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:
We’ll listen to your story without judgment. We’ll review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records). We’ll explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither. We’ll discuss realistic timelines and what to expect. We’ll answer your questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win). No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Hablamos Español:
Servicios legales en español disponibles. Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Whether you’re in Richmond or anywhere across Fort Bend County, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The Bermudez case shows that even when universities and national fraternities seem powerful, accountability is possible. Call us today.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

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/
Click2Houston (KPRC 2) coverage with detailed hazing allegations and medical findings

https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
ABC13 coverage with timeline of events and attorney statements

https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/
Hoodline summary of the $10M lawsuit and chapter closure

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
How to use your cellphone to document evidence after an incident

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Explanation of Texas statutes of limitations for personal injury cases

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
Common client mistakes that can damage injury cases

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
How contingency fees work in personal injury cases

Attorney911 Main Website:

https://attorney911.com
Full-service Texas personal injury and criminal defense law firm with 24/7 consultations

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, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com