The Complete Guide for Seymour Families: Understanding Hazing Lawsuits and Campus Accountability in Texas

If you’re a parent in Seymour, your greatest fear might be that late-night phone call saying your child is hurt. For families in Baylor County and across North Texas, that nightmare is real when hazing incidents at Texas universities turn from “tradition” into tragedy. Right now, in Harris County, our firm is leading the fight in one of the most serious hazing cases in the country—Leonel Bermudez’s $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. This case shows what can happen when forced rituals and institutional failures collide, and it’s a critical warning for every Texas family, including those right here in Seymour whose children might attend UH, Texas A&M, or other campuses.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Seymour parents and families who need to understand the reality of modern hazing, Texas law, and what to do if your child is affected. We’ll walk through exactly what hazing looks like in 2025, explain the legal framework that protects students, examine patterns at major Texas universities, and show how experienced legal counsel can help families seek accountability.

The Reality of Hazing in Texas: The Leonel Bermudez Case at University of Houston

What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in fall 2025 represents the severe, systematic abuse that still occurs despite decades of anti-hazing efforts. As reported in multiple news investigations, Bermudez endured months of escalating abuse that nearly killed him.

The hazing began with humiliating requirements like carrying a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices. It progressed to forced labor—overnight chauffeuring, strict dress codes, and hours-long “study blocks.” The physical abuse included extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, 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.

The breaking point came on November 3, 2025, when Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Days later, his urine turned brown—a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition where muscle tissue breaks down rapidly. He was hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure and critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

Our firm represents Bermudez in this ongoing litigation against 17 defendants including the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, their housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was suspended on November 6 and surrendered its charter on November 14 after voting to shut down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action up to expulsion.

What Seymour families need to understand is that this isn’t an isolated incident. The same national fraternities, the same institutional pressures, and the same dangerous traditions exist at campuses across Texas where your children might be students.

Seymour’s Connection to Texas Greek Life: Understanding the Local Ecosystem

For parents in Seymour and across Baylor County, the college journey often leads to campuses both near and far. While Seymour itself doesn’t host major universities, families regularly send students to institutions throughout Texas where Greek life plays a significant role in campus culture.

Where Seymour Families Send Their Students:

Local and regional campuses that Seymour students attend include:

• Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls) – 90 minutes north
• Texas A&M University-Commerce – 2 hours southeast
• West Texas A&M University (Canyon) – 2.5 hours northwest
• Tarleton State University (Stephenville) – 2.5 hours southeast

Major statewide universities that attract Seymour students include:

• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Texas at Austin
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock)
• University of North Texas (Denton)
• Baylor University (Waco)

Each of these campuses hosts active Greek systems with fraternities and sororities that maintain chapters, housing, and traditions. The distance from Seymour doesn’t eliminate risk—in fact, being hours from home can make students more vulnerable when they feel isolated from family support systems.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Track Organizational Accountability

One of our firm’s unique advantages in hazing litigation is what we call our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This isn’t just theoretical research; it’s active, ongoing investigative work that helps us identify every potentially liable entity in a hazing case.

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations Serving Texas Campuses

Based on IRS B83 filings and other public records, we maintain detailed information on Texas-registered Greek organizations. For Seymour families whose children attend Texas campuses, understanding this organizational landscape is crucial. Here are examples of the types of entities we track:

Texas-Based Greek Organizations (IRS B83 Examples):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc | EIN: 133048786 | College Station, TX 77845
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc | EIN: 161675890 | The Woodlands, TX 77382
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc | EIN: 201237505 | Corinth, TX 76210
• Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity | EIN: 262025321 | Denton, TX 76201
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi | EIN: 263170920 | Denton, TX 76204
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 462267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc | EIN: 475370943 | Houston, TX 77204
• Chi Omega Fraternity | EIN: 740555581 | Austin, TX 78705
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc | EIN: 741380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter | EIN: 746084905 | Houston, TX 77204

Metro-Level Greek Presence (Cause IQ Data):
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro, which influences much of North Texas including Seymour’s region, hosts approximately 510 Greek-related organizations. The Wichita Falls metro, directly north of Seymour, includes organizations serving Midwestern State University.

These aren’t just names on a list—they represent legal entities that may carry insurance, own property, and bear responsibility when their members cause harm. When we take a hazing case, we don’t start from zero. We already know how to identify the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national headquarters that might share liability.

Texas Hazing Law: What Seymour Families Need to Know

Texas has some of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-hazing statutes, but many families don’t understand how these laws actually protect their children. Here’s what you need to know:

Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F defines hazing as:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety.

Key Provisions Seymour Families Should Understand:

1. Consent Is Not a Defense (Section 37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, this doesn’t make hazing legal or eliminate liability. Courts recognize that peer pressure and power imbalance make true consent impossible in these situations.

2. Criminal Penalties Escalate with Harm (Section 37.152):

   • Class B misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
   • Class A misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
   • State jail felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

3. Organizational Liability (Section 37.153): Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can face criminal prosecution and fines up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew about it and failed to report.

4. Good-Faith Reporter Immunity (Section 37.154): Students who report hazing in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from their own involvement. This encourages calling for help in emergencies.

5. University Reporting Requirements (Section 37.156): Texas colleges must provide hazing prevention education, publish policies, and maintain annual reports of hazing violations. Some schools, like UT Austin, make these reports publicly available.

How Texas Law Compares for Seymour Families:
While Texas has strong hazing laws, neighboring states have enacted even stricter measures following high-profile deaths. Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, Ohio’s Collin’s Law, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy Piazza Anti-Hazing Law all created enhanced felony provisions. The ongoing Bermudez case at UH may similarly influence future Texas legislation.

National Hazing Patterns: What History Tells Us About Risk

The Bermudez case at UH follows patterns we’ve seen in fatal and near-fatal hazing incidents nationwide. Understanding these patterns helps Seymour families recognize warning signs and understand why certain organizational behaviors create legal liability.

Alcohol Poisoning Patterns:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Bid acceptance night with forced drinking, delayed medical care, captured on chapter cameras
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night

Physical Hazing Patterns:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Blindfolded, weighted tackle ritual during off-campus retreat
• Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2021): Pledges covered in industrial-strength cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts

Athletic Program Hazing:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Systemic sexualized and racist hazing leading to multiple lawsuits and coach termination

What These Patterns Mean for Seymour Families:
These cases establish legal precedents about foreseeability—when national organizations know certain activities cause harm but fail to prevent them, they can be held liable. The same fraternities involved in these national cases have chapters at Texas universities your children might attend.

University-Specific Hazing Realities for Seymour Students

Texas A&M University (Common Destination for Seymour Students)
Many Seymour families have children at Texas A&M, where Greek life and Corps of Cadets traditions create unique hazing risks. Recent incidents include:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges suffered severe burns from industrial cleaner, requiring skin graft surgeries
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): Cadet allegedly bound between beds in degrading position with apple in mouth
• Ongoing Rhabdomyolysis Concerns: Extreme physical hazing leading to kidney injury risk similar to Bermudez’s UH case

Texas A&M handles hazing through both Student Conduct procedures and Corps-specific regulations. The university’s size and tradition-heavy culture mean parents must be particularly vigilant.

University of Texas at Austin
UT maintains one of Texas’ most transparent hazing violation databases. Recent examples include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics
• Various Spirit Organizations: Sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): Exchange student suffered multiple injuries including dislocated leg and broken nose

UT’s public reporting provides valuable evidence when patterns of prior violations exist.

Other Texas Campuses Seymour Students Attend:

• Midwestern State University: Smaller Greek system but similar risk patterns
• Texas A&M-Commerce: Historical hazing incidents in Greek and athletic programs
• West Texas A&M: Traditional Greek life in Panhandle region

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence and Strategy for Seymour Families

When hazing occurs, evidence disappears quickly. Here’s what families need to preserve:

Digital Evidence (Most Critical):

• Group Chats: Screenshot entire threads from GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage with timestamps and participant names visible
• Social Media: Preserve Instagram stories, Snapchat memories, TikTok videos showing events
• Location Data: Geo-tags and check-ins documenting where hazing occurred
• Deleted Messages: Digital forensics can often recover “disappearing” content

Medical Documentation:

• Immediate Care: ER records should specifically note “hazing” as cause of injury
• Specialist Follow-up: Ongoing care documents long-term harm
• Psychological Evaluation: PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses from trauma

Physical Evidence:

• Injury Photos: Multiple angles with scale reference (coin, ruler)
• Objects Used: Paddles, alcohol bottles, props
• Clothing: Unwashed items with stains or damage

Institutional Records:

• University Files: Prior conduct violations obtained via discovery
• National Fraternity Records: Prior incident reports and risk management files
• Insurance Policies: Identifying all potential coverage sources

Our Investigative Approach for Texas Cases:
We deploy the same rigorous investigation techniques we’ve used in billion-dollar BP Texas City litigation and complex wrongful death cases. This includes working with digital forensics experts, medical specialists, economists for damage calculations, and Greek life culture experts who understand organizational dynamics.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Hazing Case

Based on our experience representing hazing victims across Texas, here are the most common errors families make:

1. Letting Evidence Disappear: Group chats get deleted, photos get erased, witnesses get coached. Preservation must happen immediately.

2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coordination. All communication should go through legal counsel.

3. Signing University “Resolution” Agreements: These often include waivers of legal rights and inadequate compensation.

4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility.

5. Waiting for University Investigations: Internal processes often prioritize institutional protection over victim justice.

6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Unrepresented: Recorded statements get used against victims.

7. Returning to “One Last Meeting”: This is often an opportunity for intimidation and evidence tampering.

Practical Guide for Seymour Parents: Immediate Action Steps

If You Suspect Your Child Is Being Hazed:

1. Start the Conversation Carefully:

   • “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?”

2. Look for Warning Signs:

   • Unexplained injuries or frequent “accidents”
   • Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
   • Sudden secrecy about activities
   • Personality changes: anxiety, withdrawal, defensiveness
   • Constant phone monitoring for group chat demands
   • Financial requests for unexplained expenses

3. Document Everything:

   • Write down what your child tells you with dates and details
   • Screenshot any messages they show you
   • Photograph any visible injuries

If Your Child Has Been Injured:

1. Medical First: Get emergency care immediately, even if they resist
2. Preserve Evidence: Help them save all digital communications
3. Contact Counsel: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24-48 hours
4. Avoid Mistakes: Don’t confront, don’t sign, don’t post, don’t delay

Working with Your Attorney:

• We conduct immediate evidence preservation
• Identify all potentially liable parties (individuals, chapter, national, university)
• Navigate both criminal and civil processes
• Maintain your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability
• Work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation

Why Attorney911 for Seymour Hazing Cases

Our Texas-based firm brings unique qualifications to hazing litigation that directly benefit Seymour families:

Insurance Insider Knowledge:
Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience:
Our involvement in BP Texas City explosion litigation proved our capability against billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal resources. National fraternities and major universities employ the same tactics—we’re not intimidated.

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability:
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can advise on criminal exposure while pursuing civil accountability.

Texas-Specific Geographic Mastery:
We serve families throughout Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices. We understand the different cultures at A&M, UT, Baylor, SMU, and regional campuses where Seymour students enroll.

Proven Results in Catastrophic Cases:
We’ve recovered millions for clients in wrongful death and severe injury cases. We work with economists, life care planners, and medical experts to ensure full compensation for all damages—medical costs, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.

Spanish-Language Services:
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families throughout Texas with culturally sensitive representation.

Your Next Steps: Free Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether your child attends school near Seymour or anywhere in Texas, we can help.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation:

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

What to Expect in Your Consultation:

1. We listen to your story without judgment
2. Review any evidence you’ve preserved
3. Explain your legal options clearly
4. Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
5. Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—no recovery, no fee)
6. No pressure to hire immediately—take time to decide

For Immediate Emergencies:
If your child is in danger right now, call 911 first for medical help, then call us at 11-888-ATTY-911. We provide immediate assistance—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez UH Case:

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

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency fees explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Resources:

• Main website: https://attorney911.com
• Wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
  1- Ralph Manginello profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

Legal Disclaimer
This article provides general information about hazing laws and cases in Texas. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on specific facts and circumstances. If you need legal assistance regarding a hazing incident, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a confidential consultation regarding your particular situation.