A Port Neches Parent’s Guide to Texas Hazing Laws, Fraternity Abuse & Protecting Your Child: UH, Texas A&M, UT & Beyond

For Port Neches Families: When Your Child’s College “Tradition” Becomes Trauma

Imagine your student from Port Neches, excited to start their journey at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or another Texas campus. They join a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or campus organization, hoping to find community and friendship. Then the texts and calls change. They’re exhausted, secretive, making excuses for unexplained bruises or strange behavior. You hear whispers about “pledge duties,” “big brother nights,” and “team bonding” that sounds more like abuse than friendship. Your instinct screams that something is wrong.

You are not imagining it. Right now, less than two hours from Port Neches in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 fraternity leaders. The details are stark: forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, simulated waterboarding with a hose, extreme workouts causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, and a humiliating “pledge fanny pack” rule requiring condoms and sex toys. This isn’t a story from decades ago—this is happening now at major Texas universities where Port Neches families send their children.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Port Neches, Jefferson County, and the surrounding Golden Triangle area. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas hazing laws in plain language, connect national fraternity patterns to our local campuses, and outline the concrete legal options available to your family. If your child has been hurt by hazing at any Texas university—whether at Lamar University here in Beaumont or at schools hours away like UT Austin or Texas A&M—you have rights, and there is a path to accountability.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN PORT NECHES & SOUTHEAST TEXAS

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 (GroupMe, texts, DMs), 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, or let your child delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Port Neches Students

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “boys will be boys” mentality. It is a calculated system of coercion, humiliation, and control that endangers mental and physical health. For Port Neches parents, understanding the modern forms is critical to recognizing the signs.

A Clear, Modern Definition: 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. Crucially, “I agreed to it” or “it’s tradition” is not a legal defense in Texas.

Main Categories of Hazing

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly form. This includes forced chugging, drinking games like “lineups” or “century club,” and being pressured to consume unknown substances or dangerous amounts of liquor, as alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case where pledges were forced to drink milk and eat hot dogs until vomiting.

2. Physical Hazing: Beyond “conditioning.” This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings” of hundreds of push-ups/squats), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. In the UH case, Leonel Bermudez was allegedly forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in a single session, leading to catastrophic muscle breakdown.

3. Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Designed to degrade and strip dignity. This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks,” “roasted pig” positions), and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” at UH, containing condoms and sex toys, is a textbook example of humiliating hazing.

4. Psychological & Digital Hazing: The 24/7 control enabled by smartphones. This includes verbal abuse, isolation, social media humiliation, and constant demands via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp) where pledges must respond instantly at all hours or face punishment. Geo-tracking and forced posting of compromising content are modern tools of coercion.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just “Fraternities”

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades many campus organizations that Port Neches students join:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural chapters)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (especially relevant at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys, Aggie Bonfire crew historically)
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The common threads are power imbalance, secrecy, and the justification of “tradition.”

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Port Neches Family’s Legal Framework

Texas has specific laws designed to combat hazing and hold perpetrators accountable. Understanding this framework is the first step for any Port Neches family considering legal action.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act (on or off campus) directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Key Provisions for Port Neches Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense. This crushes the common argument that “they wanted to do it.”
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to authorities are immune from civil or criminal liability, encouraging bystanders and victims in Port Neches to come forward.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the State (DA’s office).
• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation).
• Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, and in fatal cases, manslaughter.

Civil Lawsuits:

• Brought by the victim or their family (like the Bermudez lawsuit).
• Goal: Monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability.
• Focuses on negligence, wrongful death, emotional distress, and holding all responsible parties liable—from individual members to national headquarters and the university.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to win a civil case; they have different standards of proof.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?

A thorough investigation, like the one we conduct using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, aims to identify every liable entity:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The campus organization as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that often have deep insurance pockets and prior knowledge of hazing patterns. In the UH case, Pi Kappa Phi national is a defendant.
4. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, or UT can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, or deliberate indifference to known risks.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, housing corporations, and alcohol providers.

The National Hazing Pattern: Why History Matters for Port Neches Cases

The tragic case at UH is not an isolated incident. It fits a decades-long, nationwide pattern of fraternity hazing that results in death, catastrophic injury, and multi-million-dollar lawsuits. These national precedents directly strengthen cases for Port Neches families.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: A Repeating Script

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from national fraternity, ~$3M from university).
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge died after a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: $6.1 million verdict and the “Max Gruver Act” felony hazing law in Louisiana.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event. The national fraternity is the same one involved in the current UH case.

Physical & Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.

The Legal Takeaway for Texas

Courts and juries recognize these national patterns. When a fraternity at UH or Texas A&M engages in the same dangerous behaviors that have killed pledges at other schools, it demonstrates foreseeability and recklessness. This history shatters defenses like “we didn’t know” or “it was just horseplay.”

Texas Universities Under the Microscope: Where Port Neches Students Go

Port Neches families have deep ties to Texas universities. Many students stay close to home at Lamar University in Beaumont, while others head to major hubs like University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, or Texas Tech. Each campus has its own hazing landscape and history.

The Flagship Case: University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu)

As covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, this active lawsuit represents the stark reality of modern hazing.

• The Harm: Leonel Bermudez developed life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after extreme physical hazing, requiring four days of hospitalization.
• The Hazing: “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced overeating, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding,” 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, and activities at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter (Nov 6, 2025), and members voted to surrender their charter (Nov 14, 2025). UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• The Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual members.

For Port Neches families, this case proves that severe, injurious hazing is not abstract—it’s happening at a major university many local students attend.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For Port Neches students drawn to Aggie traditions, the risks extend beyond Greek life.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A former cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth, citing a “culture of abuse.” He sued for over $1 million.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.

University of Texas at Austin

UT maintains a public hazing violations log, offering a window into recurring issues.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for hazing after new members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Facing a lawsuit after an Australian exchange student alleged assault at a party, resulting in a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractures.
• Spirit Groups: Organizations like Texas Wranglers have faced sanctions for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)

• Baylor: Has faced hazing scandals within its baseball program, resulting in player suspensions, reflecting that the problem exists within athletic departments as well.
• SMU: Has suspended chapters like Kappa Alpha Order for reported paddling and forced drinking incidents.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: The Data Behind the Letters

At Attorney911, we don’t just react to hazing cases; we investigate them with a data-driven strategy. We maintain a proprietary directory built from public records to track the organizations behind the Greek letters. For Port Neches families, this means we start with knowledge, not from zero.

Public Records: Greek Organizations Operating in Texas & the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metro

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine aggregates data from IRS filings (B83 organizations), university records, and metro-level databases. In the Beaumont-Port Arthur metro area, which includes Port Neches, public records show Greek organizations like:

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter (Beaumont, TX – Undergrad chapter at Lamar Univ.)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni (Beaumont, TX – Alumni association, Lamar Univ.)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Beaumont Alumni (Beaumont, TX – Graduate chapter)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar Univ. (Beaumont, TX – Academic honor society)

Statewide, we track over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 188 in the Houston metro and 22 in the Beaumont-Port Arthur metro. This includes house corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies—all potential entities that may share liability.

Example IRS B83 Listings (Texas-Registered Greek Organizations):

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN: 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN: 237279532 – Prairie View, TX 77446 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN: 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN: 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)

This intelligence allows us to immediately identify the legal and financial structures behind a fraternity or sorority involved in a hazing incident, which is crucial for pursuing maximum accountability and insurance recovery.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages for Port Neches Families

If your child has been hazed, building a powerful case requires immediate, strategic action. The goal is to secure compensation for their harms and force institutional change.

Critical Evidence to Preserve NOW

1. Digital Communications: Screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord), DMs, and emails. Assume they will be deleted. Our video on using your phone to document evidence is a vital resource.
2. Photos & Videos: Of injuries (with date stamps), locations, and any objects used (paddles, bottles). Take multiple angles.
3. Medical Records: Every ER visit, doctor’s note, lab result (like CK levels for rhabdomyolysis), and prescription. Tell medical providers the cause was “hazing.”
4. Personal Notes: Write down a detailed timeline of events, including names, dates, locations, and what was said.
5. Witness Information: Names and contact info for other pledges, roommates, or bystanders.

Types of Recoverable Damages

In a civil lawsuit, the law allows families to seek compensation for:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost tuition if schooling is disrupted, and lost future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering of the family.

Overcoming Common Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law voids this defense. We demonstrate the power imbalance and coercion.
• “It Was Off-Campus/Rogue Members”: We show national and university knowledge of patterns and failure to supervise.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We prove policies were ignored or unenforced through prior incident records.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, uses his experience as a former insurance defense lawyer to navigate denials and secure coverage.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Port Neches Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Secretive behavior, withdrawal from family/friends, anxiety around phone notifications.
• Sudden academic decline or missing classes.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m worried about you. Are you being asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger or injury, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Gently help your child screenshot and back up digital evidence before it vanishes.
4. Seek Medical & Mental Health Care: Document everything medically.
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 interests and evidence.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely

• Trust Your Gut: If it feels degrading, dangerous, or coercive, it likely is hazing.
• You Have the Right to Leave: Your safety is more important than any organization. You can resign via email/text; you do not owe them an in-person meeting.
• Report Safely: You can report to the Dean of Students, campus police, or anonymously through hotlines. Texas law offers protections for good-faith reporters.
• Get Support: Reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or attorney. You are not alone.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

We detail common pitfalls in our video on client mistakes. Avoid these at all costs:

1. Deleting evidence to “move on” or avoid embarrassment.
2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, which triggers evidence destruction.
3. Signing university settlement offers without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting about the incident on social media, which can be used against you.
5. Waiting too long. Texas has a statute of limitations. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Why Attorney911 for Port Neches Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of insider knowledge and proven litigation strength to hazing cases across Texas, including for families in Port Neches and Jefferson County.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

1. Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as an attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This insider knowledge is invaluable in maximizing recovery for our clients.

2. Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):
We are one of the few Texas firms that handled BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on billion-dollar defendants. We are not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their deep-pocketed defense teams. We have federal court experience and a record of multi-million dollar results in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

3. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation:
We are not theorists; we are practitioners. We currently represent Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the trenches right now, fighting the same types of national organizations and institutional defenses that your family may face.

4. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise:
Founding attorney Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can effectively advise clients when criminal charges are also involved and navigate the interplay between criminal and civil proceedings.

5. Data-Driven Investigation:
We deploy our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—the same public records directory referenced in this guide—from day one. We identify all potentially liable entities, track national patterns, and build unassailable cases based on evidence, not just emotion.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation for Port Neches Families

If hazing has impacted your child at Lamar University, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or any other campus, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options under Texas law, and discuss the realistic path to accountability and recovery. We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and hazing cases—meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Learn more about how contingency fees work.

Call Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Hablamos Español. Mr. Lupe Peña offers fluent Spanish-language legal services.

We are here to help your family find answers, secure justice, and ensure no other student endures what your child has suffered.

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)
Website: https://attorney911.com

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

• Click2Houston report: 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 YouTube Videos:

• Using your cellphone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that can ruin your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• https://attorney911.com