The Definitive Texas Hazing Guide for Families in Spofford

If you are a parent in Spofford, Texas, your worst nightmare might begin with a late-night phone call. Your child, a student at a Texas university, is whispering that something has gone terribly wrong at a fraternity event. They feel sick, they’re scared, and they don’t know who to trust. This isn’t a hypothetical—it’s happening right now to Texas families. In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died after severe hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His story is your proof that this crisis is real, it’s happening in our state, and it demands immediate, serious legal action.

This guide is written specifically for you—parents, students, and community members in Spofford, Kinney County, and the surrounding Texas region. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, detail your legal rights under Texas law, and show you how our data-driven, Texas-based firm, Attorney911, is already fighting for accountability in cases just like the one that could impact your family.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours, you must:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma can be fatal. Go to the ER.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text, and social media post related to the incident. Do this BEFORE members delete them.
3. Document Physically: Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any clothing or objects involved.
4. Write it Down: Record everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts—while their memory is fresh.
5. Contact a Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears fast. Universities and fraternities move quickly to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24-48 hours for a free consultation to protect your child’s rights.

DO NOT:

• Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization directly.
• Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
• Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
• Post details on public social media.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For families in Spofford, the word “hazing” might conjure images of old movies—silly pranks or harmless traditions. That is dangerously outdated. Today’s hazing is a calculated system of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to break down new members. It operates in plain sight, disguised as “team building” or “tradition,” and it leaves permanent physical and psychological scars.

Hazing is broadly defined under Texas law as 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 any organization. Crucially, your child’s “consent” is not a legal defense for their abusers.

Modern hazing falls into clear, escalating categories:

1. Digital Control & Psychological Coercion:

• 24/7 Group Chat Monitoring: Pledges are required to respond instantly to messages at all hours, leading to severe sleep deprivation.
• Geo-Tracking & Social Media Policing: Forced use of location-sharing apps (Find My Friends, Life360) and control over social media posts.
• “Optional” Mandates: Activities are framed as “voluntary,” but refusal means social exclusion, denial of a “Big,” or being labeled “not committed.”

2. Harassing Hazing:

• Sleep & Food Deprivation: Late-night “meetings,” 3 AM wake-up calls, and restricted access to meals.
• Forced Physical Exertion: “Smokings” or extreme calisthenics (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse) framed as “conditioning.”
• Public Humiliation: Being forced to wear degrading costumes, perform embarrassing acts in public, or endure verbal “roasts.”

3. Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing:
This is where students, like our client Leonel Bermudez at UH, suffer catastrophic injuries.

• Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, and coerced chugging that leads to acute alcohol poisoning.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackle rituals (like the Pi Delta Psi case that killed Chun “Michael” Deng), and forced fights.
• Extreme Endurance Rituals: The UH Pi Kappa Phi case involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints, and a “workout” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.
• Sexualized & Degrading Acts: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and humiliating positions.

This abuse doesn’t just happen in fraternity houses. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs (like at Texas A&M), athletic teams, spirit groups, marching bands, and other campus organizations. For Spofford families, understanding that hazing is a systemic problem—not a few “bad apples”—is the first step toward accountability.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: Your Legal Framework

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest anti-hazing statutes, designed to protect students like yours. The law is found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Here’s what every Spofford parent needs to know:

The Core Definition (Sec. 37.151):
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers their mental or physical health for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any organization.

Key Provisions for Families:

• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for those who hazed them. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (Sec. 37.154): A person who reports hazing in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also have amnesty policies to encourage calling 911 in alcohol emergencies.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

As a Spofford family, you may navigate two parallel legal tracks:

1. Criminal Case: Brought by the state (e.g., Kinney County, Harris County, or campus police). The goal is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault, or even manslaughter.

2. Civil Lawsuit: Brought by you, the victim and family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we hold every responsible party liable, from the individual who swung the paddle to the national fraternity that turned a blind eye.

You can pursue a civil case even if no criminal charges are ever filed. Our burden is different—we prove negligence, not guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A successful case identifies every entity with responsibility:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or covered up the abuse.
• The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They collect dues, set policies, and have a duty to supervise. Their knowledge of prior incidents at other chapters (their “national history”) is crucial evidence.
• The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT Austin have a duty to protect students. They can be liable for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference to known dangers.
• Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, and even alcohol providers under dram shop laws.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Predict Texas Tragedies

The brutal hazing at UH’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter was not an anomaly. It is part of a national pattern that repeats across campuses, including Texas. These cases provide the legal precedent and painful lessons that inform our fight for Spofford families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a whole bottle of alcohol; died. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from national, $3M from university).
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: $6.1 million verdict and the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night with handles of liquor. The chapter was shut down.

The Physical Assault & Ritual Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after falls during a bid night; brothers delayed calling 911. Dozens faced criminal charges.
• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head injuries during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.

The Severe Injury Pattern:

• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family secured multi-million-dollar settlements from 22 defendants.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges were doused with industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgery. The chapter was sued for $1 million.

What This Means for You: These cases prove that national fraternities know these rituals are deadly. When a Texas chapter repeats them, it demonstrates foreseeability—a core element of negligence. We use this national pattern evidence to show that what happened to your child was not an “accident,” but a predictable, preventable outcome of a broken system.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Spofford Families Send Their Kids

Parents in Spofford and Kinney County often have children attending universities across our great state. Understanding the specific hazing risks and reporting landscapes at these schools is critical. Our firm maintains the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, to inform this work.

University of Houston (UH) – A Case Study in Crisis

The Leonel Bermudez case is our active, frontline example of how hazing litigation works.

The Case: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi

• The Abuse: As a Fall 2025 pledge, Bermudez was subjected to the “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced overnight driving, sleep deprivation, and violent physical hazing at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. This culminated in a Nov. 3 “workout” of extreme calisthenics.
• The Injury: He developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on Nov. 6. Members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• The Lawsuit: We filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County against UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, the housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This case is ongoing.

For Spofford Families: This case shows that even major urban universities like UH, just a few hours from Kinney County, are not immune. It demonstrates the medical severity of hazing injuries and the complex web of defendants we must pursue.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For families with children in College Station, the culture of tradition carries unique risks.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): As noted above, a lawsuit alleged pledges were burned with cleaner.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The suit sought over $1 million.
• Where to Report: The University Discipline Office and the Commandant’s Office for the Corps. Incidents often involve both university conduct codes and military-style discipline.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations Log, offering a window into ongoing issues.

• Recent Sanctions: Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) sanctioned for forcing new members to drink milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups and fraternities have been disciplined for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• Transparency as a Tool: This public record is a powerful asset for families, as it establishes prior knowledge and pattern of behavior that we can use in litigation.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private institutions have significant Greek life but often less public transparency.

• SMU – Kappa Alpha Order (2017): Chapter suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor Baseball (2020): 14 players suspended following a hazing investigation.
• The Legal Approach: Pursuing cases against private universities involves different strategic considerations, but the core negligence claims remain powerful.

Fraternities & Sororities: The National Brands Behind Local Chapters

When your child is hazed by “Beta Nu” at UH, you are also facing Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Inc., a national corporation with headquarters, insurance policies, and a documented history. Our investigative strategy maps this entire ecosystem. Below is a snapshot from our Texas Public Records Directory, showing the kinds of entities we identify in every case.

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families
The following are real Texas-registered entities from IRS and public filings. This directory illustrates the complex network behind campus Greek letters.

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Houston, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp., Austin, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing – UT Austin house corporation)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Beaumont Alumni, Beaumont, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing – graduate chapter)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar Univ., Beaumont, TX (IRS-Cause IQ overlap – academic honor society)

Why This Directory Matters: We don’t start from zero. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national entities that hold insurance and legal responsibility. This data is part of what gives Spofford families an advantage in seeking full accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

If hazing has hurt your family, building a powerful case requires immediate, meticulous action and strategic expertise. Here is how we approach it at Attorney911.

Phase 1: Evidence Preservation & Investigation
Digital evidence is the cornerstone of modern hazing litigation.

• Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage): We secure full threads showing planning, execution, and cover-up attempts. Digital forensics can often recover deleted messages.
• Social Media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok): Photos, videos, stories, and DMs that document injuries, events, and attitudes.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” books, emails between chapter officers and nationals.
• University & National Records: Through discovery, we obtain prior conduct reports, risk management files, and correspondence proving what the institution knew and when.
• Medical & Psychological Records: ER reports, lab results (like CK levels for rhabdomyolysis), and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.

Phase 2: Identifying All Liable Parties
Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we map the entire defendant universe:

1. Individual perpetrators.
2. Local chapter as an entity.
3. Chapter officers (President, Pledgemaster, Risk Manager).
4. National fraternity/sorority headquarters.
5. Housing corporations and alumni associations.
6. The university and its board.
7. Third-party property owners or vendors.

Phase 3: Calculating Damages
The harm from hazing is profound and compensable under Texas law. We fight for:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, future care), lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, and educational costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If tragedy strikes, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or intentional conduct, we pursue damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future behavior.

Practical Guide for Spofford Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Secrecy about organization activities; fear when their phone buzzes.
• Personality shifts: new anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Sudden academic decline or loss of interest in old friends.

What to Do:

1. Talk: Ask open-ended questions. “How are things with the [fraternity/sorority]? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything. Photograph injuries.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional evaluation; tell the doctor about the hazing.
5. Consult a Lawyer Before Reporting: We can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies abuse.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense: Texas law protects you even if you felt pressured to agree.
• How to Exit Safely: You can quit anytime. Send a clear text/email to the chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately.” Do not go to a “final meeting.”
• Report Anonymously: Use campus reporting channels, the Dean of Students office, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Messages: This looks like a cover-up and destroys your best evidence.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Do not sign any “resolution” or waiver from the school without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators will scour your accounts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, memories fade, and the statute of limitations (generally 2 years in Texas) ticks away.

Why Attorney911 for Your Spofford Family’s Hazing Case

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need Texas lawyers who know how to fight powerful institutions and win. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of insider knowledge, proven litigation strength, and deep investigative resources to your side.

Our Competitive Advantages for Hazing Cases:

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

2. Proven Institutional Litigation Strength (Ralph Manginello): Ralph was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporation. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams. We have federal court experience and a record of multi-million-dollar results in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

3. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Texas Greek organizations. We don’t start investigations from scratch; we know how to find the housing corporations, alumni networks, and national entities that share liability.

4. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph Manginello is a member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil lawsuits and can advise on all aspects of your case.

5. A Comprehensive Investigative Network: We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, medical experts to document lifelong injuries, psychologists to evaluate trauma, and economists to calculate true lifetime damages.

6. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Lupe Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español. We are committed to serving all Texas families.

We are based in Houston, with offices in Austin and Beaumont, and we serve families across Texas, including Spofford, Kinney County, and the entire region. We understand the values of Texas families and the profound betrayal you feel when institutions fail to protect your children.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in Spofford or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

• Call Our 24/7 Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

In your consultation, we will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic process, timeline, and potential outcomes.
• Explain our contingency fee structure—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Give you the clarity and confidence to make the best decision for your family.

We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We are ready to help your family find answers, secure justice, and prevent this from happening to anyone else. Call us now.

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 | lupe@atty911.com