The Complete Guide for San Patricio Families: Understanding Hazing, Texas Law, and Your Path to Accountability

For a parent in San Patricio, Texas, the call can come at any hour. Your child, attending a university perhaps hours from home in the Coastal Bend, is in distress—hurt, humiliated, or hospitalized after what was supposed to be a brotherhood or sisterhood initiation. The university’s response is vague, the fraternity or sorority is circling the wagons, and you’re left searching for answers and accountability from your home in San Patricio County.

Right now, in Texas, we are actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in recent memory. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members of its shut-down Beta Nu chapter. As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez was subjected to a “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced overconsumption of food, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospitalization.

This is the stark reality of modern hazing in Texas. It’s not just “bad behavior”—it’s organized abuse that leads to catastrophic injury. This guide is written specifically for families in San Patricio, Sinton, Odem, Taft, and across the Coastal Bend who need to understand what hazing truly looks like in 2025, the Texas laws that govern it, and the legal pathways to justice when the institutions meant to protect students fail.

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 evidence, coached witnesses).
  • Universities and national organizations 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 on Texas Campuses

For San Patricio families, hazing may conjure images of outdated stereotypes. The reality in 2025 is a dangerous blend of psychological coercion, digital surveillance, and physical abuse, often disguised as “tradition” or “team building.”

A Modern Definition of Coercion

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining or maintaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, a student saying “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when powerful peer pressure and fear of exclusion are at play.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: Forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), coercion to consume unknown substances.
• Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” with extreme calisthenics (100+ push-ups, 500+ squats), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme elements.
• Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), degrading costumes, acts with racial or sexist overtones.
• Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, public shaming.
• Digital/Online Hazing: Group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, forced social media posts, “challenges” shared on TikTok or Instagram, 24/7 location sharing demands.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

San Patricio students can face hazing in multiple organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Corps of Cadets or ROTC units with military-style traditions.
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit & Tradition Groups (like Texas Cowboys or similar campus organizations).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Some Academic, Service, or Cultural Clubs.

The common thread is social status, tradition, and secrecy that keep these practices alive, even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for San Patricio Families

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37: Your Legal Backbone

Under Texas law—which governs cases for San Patricio families—hazing is specifically defined and criminalized in the Education Code.

• Definition (§ 37.151): Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing not causing 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.
• No Consent Defense (§ 37.155): It is NOT a defense that the victim “consented” to the activity. This directly counters the most common excuse.
• Immunity for Reporting (§ 37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or call for medical help are generally immune from disciplinary action or prosecution related to that report, even if they were involved or underage drinking occurred.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (e.g., Nueces County DA, campus police). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim is financial compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases can proceed even if no criminal charges are ever filed.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

In a civil hazing lawsuit, multiple parties can be held accountable:

1. Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an organization.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters that sets policy, collects dues, and supervises chapters.
4. The University (like TAMU-CC, UH, or UT) for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference.
5. Property Owners & Third Parties (landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers).

The Gulf Coast’s Greek Ecosystem: A Public Records Directory for San Patricio Families

To hold organizations accountable, you must first identify them. Our firm maintains the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across the state. For families in the Coastal Bend and Corpus Christi metro area, here is a snapshot of the registered, tax-exempt Greek entities operating in your region, based on IRS and public filings:

Gulf Coast & Corpus Christi Metro Area Organizations (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Data):

• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc. – Iota Phi Chapter
  • IRS EIN: 831418972 | Address: 218 University Center, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
  • Data Source: IRS B83 Public Filing (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Chapter)
• Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony
  • Cause IQ Metro: Corpus Christi | Address: Corpus Christi, TX (TAMU–CC colony/chapter)
  • Data Source: Cause IQ Metro Listing
• Phi Kappa Phi – TAMU Corpus Christi Chapter
  • Cause IQ Metro: Corpus Christi | Address: Corpus Christi, TX
  • Data Source: Cause IQ Metro Listing (Academic Honor Society)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi Chapter
  • Cause IQ Metro: Corpus Christi | Address: Kingsville, TX (Texas A&M–Kingsville)
  • Data Source: Cause IQ Metro Listing
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae
  • Cause IQ Metro: Corpus Christi | Address: Corpus Christi, TX (Graduate Chapter, founded 1952)
  • Data Source: Cause IQ Metro Listing
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (Campus)
  • City/County: Corpus Christi, Nueces County | Source: Texas Universities Master List
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Campus)
  • City/County: Kingsville, Kleberg County | Source: Texas Universities Master List

This directory illustrates a critical point: behind every fraternity or sorority name are registered legal entities with EINs, addresses, and often, layers of insurance. When hazing occurs, we know how to identify every liable organization from the local chapter house corporation to the national headquarters.

Where San Patricio Families Send Their Kids: Local and Statewide Campus Connections

Families in San Patricio County have strong ties to both regional universities and major statewide institutions.

Local & Regional Campuses:

• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: The closest major public university, with active Greek life and student organizations.
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville: A historic campus with a significant Greek presence.
• Del Mar College: While primarily a community college, its students often transfer to four-year schools with Greek systems.

Major Texas Universities (Common Destinations):

• University of Texas at Austin: The flagship campus, with over 60 Greek chapters.
• Texas A&M University (College Station): Home to a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets.
• University of Houston: A large urban campus with the Pi Kappa Phi case currently unfolding.
• Texas State University (San Marcos): A growing Greek community.
• Baylor University & Southern Methodist University: Private schools with prominent Greek life.

The legal strategy for a hazing case must account for where the incident occurred. A case at TAMU-CC falls under Nueces County jurisdiction, while an incident at UT Austin involves Travis County courts. Our firm handles cases across Texas, understanding these local legal landscapes.

National Hazing Cases: Patterns That Echo in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal patterns that repeat in Texas, proving that national fraternities and universities often fail to learn from past disasters.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• 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 nationals, $3M from university).
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act (felony hazing).
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died during a “Big Brother” night. The same national fraternity involved in the current UH lawsuit.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• 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.

What This Means for San Patricio Families

These cases establish critical legal precedents: foreseeability (nationals knew the risks), pattern of conduct, and institutional liability. When a chapter at a Texas school repeats the same dangerous “tradition,” the national organization cannot plausibly claim it was a surprise. These national histories strengthen the cases of Texas victims.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Building a winning hazing case requires immediate, strategic action and deep investigative resources. Here is what we do for families in San Patricio and across Texas.

Critical Evidence Collection

Evidence disappears within hours. Our investigation secures:

• Digital Communications: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages recovered via digital forensics. Social media posts, DMs, and location data.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, chapter meeting notes, email chains between members and national advisors.
• University Records: Prior conduct violations of the same organization, obtained through discovery or public records requests.
• Medical & Psychological Records: Documenting the full physical injury (e.g., rhabdomyolysis lab reports) and psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety diagnoses).
• Witness Testimony: Interviews with other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Our video on using your phone to document evidence provides crucial first steps for families.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered

In a civil lawsuit, families may seek compensation for:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospital, surgery, therapy), future medical care, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for the family.

We work with economists and life-care planners to build a complete picture of the harm, ensuring settlements or verdicts account for a lifetime of impact. For more on our wrongful death practice, visit https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/.

Overcoming Institutional Defense Tactics

We know the playbook because our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, used to work for the insurance companies that defend these institutions. Common defenses we dismantle include:

• “The Victim Consented”: Texas law explicitly rejects this defense.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to show prior knowledge and pattern of similar incidents across the country.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue negligent supervision by the national or university, which is often covered.

Practical Guides & FAQs for San Patricio Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Becoming secretive or withdrawn, especially about group activities.
• Constant anxiety about phone notifications (from group chats).
• Sudden requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”
• Personality changes: increased anxiety, depression, or irritability.

What to Do in the First 48 Hours:

1. Prioritize Health: Seek medical care immediately. Tell doctors the injuries are from suspected hazing so it’s documented.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, text messages, and social media posts. Photograph injuries. Do not let them delete anything.
3. Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened.
4. Seek Legal Counsel: Contact a hazing attorney before reporting to the university. We can guide you on how to report while protecting your rights and evidence.
5. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post details on social media.

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

• Trust Your Gut: If you feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced, it is hazing.
• You Have the Right to Leave: You can quit any organization at any time. Your safety is more important than membership.
• Safe Reporting: You can report anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law offers protections for good-faith reporters.
• Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots, photos, and notes. Tell a trusted friend or family member what is happening.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: This is the single biggest error. It looks like a cover-up and destroys your case.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often contain waivers that forfeit your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense lawyers will scour your posts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting for the University to “Handle It”: Internal processes are not designed for victim compensation or true accountability.

Watch our detailed video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

Frequently Asked Questions for Texas Families

Q: Can we sue a university in Texas for hazing?
A: Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees. Private universities like Baylor and SMU have fewer immunity protections. The $3 million settlement from Bowling Green State University (a public school) in the Stone Foltz case proves it is possible.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years from the date of injury or death. However, complexities can alter this timeline. Do not wait. Learn more in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not shield organizations from liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible based on their sponsorship, control, and knowledge of the activities. The Pi Delta Psi case that resulted in a death at a Pennsylvania retreat is a prime example.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and hazing cases. This means you pay no upfront attorney fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Watch our explanation of how contingency fees work.

Why San Patricio Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a generic personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys with proven success against the very institutions that will fight you—national fraternities and major universities.

Our Competitive Edge for Texas Hazing Litigation:

1. Active, High-Stakes Case Experience: We are right now leading the $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi for Leonel Bermudez. We are in the fight today, not just talking about past cases.
2. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we helped write it.
3. Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar defendant. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets of national fraternities or university legal teams.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Texas Greek organizations, their EINs, addresses, and structures. We know how to find every potentially liable entity from day one.
5. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are proud to serve Hispanic families in San Patricio and across Texas in their preferred language.

Our approach is built on investigation, not just negotiation. We deploy digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, subpoena national fraternity records to prove patterns, and work with medical and economic experts to build an undeniable case for full accountability.

Your Path Forward: A Confidential Consultation with Attorney911

If you are a parent in San Patricio, Portland, Ingleside, or anywhere in the Coastal Bend, and hazing has impacted your child, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers; you deserve expert advocacy in your corner.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to every family. In this conversation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options under Texas law.
• Outline the investigation process.
• Answer your questions about timelines, costs, and what to expect.
• Help you decide the best path forward for your family’s healing and justice.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• 24/7 Phone: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us use our experience, data, and determination to help your family find answers, secure accountability, and prevent this from happening to another student from San Patricio or anywhere else.

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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: 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 of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Video: Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Video: Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Video: Client Mistakes That Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Video: How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com