the only legal remifications and risk managment issues I see here, is that there might have been a chance that he was forced into this.
Was this a chapter sanctioned event? Did every one do this? Doesn't sound like it. It sounds like this was a few of the guys thinking this would be a cool idea.
Now there are probably some regretsbut they don't want to take any responsibility for their own actions.
No, my sorority would never have branding as a sanctioned event, but if I went out one day and decided to get my letters branding on my body and later regret it I have no one to answer but myself.
Show me solid evidence that he was forced into doing this and I will side with you saying yes, there should be punishments. But I see no such evidence here.

If the guy truly did choose to get a brand, fine. I agree with others that posted before me- let the dad be pissed off at his son, but not the fraternity or school. Brands are essentially no different than tattoos and parents don't threaten to sue the GLO or school when their kid gets a tat.
There is a frat where I went to undergrad that a lot of members choose to get branded. Their brands are on their butts, so it's easy to tell when they got branded cause they bring cushions to class to sit on!:D It is not forced and not done on campus and as far as I know, the whole frat is not present, so I really don't see how a lawsuit could be brought against them or the school.
As far as an infection setting in, dying in the hospital, blah, blah, blah.... You could step on a rusty nail, get an infection and die. That's just life.
I'm not bashing anyone's opinion- I just think the dad is angry at the wrong people (frat and univ.) and should be taking this issue up with his son.

Tom,

Your old saying makes no sense. You can pay all the bills you want, build 500 roofs over your sons head, and if he goes and gets branded, you still can't do anything about it because he was 18. The only thing YOU can do is take away the luxurious life you are providing, nothing more.

Thats like saying "My kid is 18, I let him have a beer with me from time to time - if the cops were to give him an underage drinking fine, my rules would trump the cops, and the fine would not be issued".

Closed minded thinking.