The Complete Guide for Bayside Families: Understanding Hazing, Texas Law & University Accountability

If you are a parent in the Town of Bayside, your world revolves around family, community, and the promise of a bright future for your children. Our small, tight-knit community in Refugio County is built on trust, traditional values, and looking out for one another. We send our kids to college with pride, hoping the universities we trust will protect them. But right now, a disturbing reality is unfolding at Texas campuses that every Bayside family needs to understand.

Picture this: A student from our Coastal Bend region arrives at a major Texas university, eager to find their place. They join a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or athletic team, drawn by promises of brotherhood, sisterhood, and tradition. Then, the “bonding” begins—forced drinking games that cross into alcohol poisoning, brutal late-night “workouts” that cause kidney failure, humiliating rituals designed to break down dignity, and a code of silence that prevents victims from speaking out. When injuries occur, the institution often circles the wagons, prioritizing reputation over student safety. This is not hypothetical. It is happening right now at universities across Texas, and Bayside families are not immune.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for you—parents, grandparents, and community members in Bayside and throughout Refugio County. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, how Texas law applies, what has been happening at universities where our children study, and what legal options exist when institutions fail in their duty to protect students.

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 move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

For Bayside families, hazing might conjure images of outdated pranks or “boys will be boys” mischief. The reality in 2025 is far more dangerous, systematic, and psychologically complex. 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. Critically, “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal under Texas law when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

Modern hazing falls into several dangerous categories that every Coastal Bend parent should recognize:

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “bid acceptance” nights, “Big/Little” reveals, “family tree” drinking games, or “lineup” challenges where pledges must rapidly consume alcohol. Students are often pressured to drink dangerous amounts of hard liquor, sometimes mixed with unknown substances. The result can be acute alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury from falls, or death.

Physical Hazing
This goes beyond tough workouts to include paddling and beatings, extreme calisthenics or “smokings” designed to cause collapse, sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions,” food and water restriction, and exposure to extreme cold or heat. A particularly dangerous trend is the induction of rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure—through excessive, punitive exercise.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or positions, and acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones. These rituals are designed to strip away dignity and create psychological dependency on the group.

Psychological and Digital Hazing
The digital age has created new avenues for abuse: 24/7 group chat monitoring with instant response demands, public shaming on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, “challenges” shared in Discord servers, and geo-tracking via apps like Find My Friends. Psychological manipulation includes verbal abuse, isolation from non-members, and threats of expulsion from the group for non-compliance.

Hazing occurs not just in fraternities and sororities but in Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit squads, marching bands, and some academic or service organizations. The common threads are tradition, secrecy, and power imbalance—elements that can make even good kids participate in or tolerate dangerous behavior.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Bayside Families Need to Know

Texas has specific, powerful anti-hazing laws that protect students from Bayside to Beaumont. Under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F, hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health or safety and occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Key Provisions Protecting Our Community:

• § 37.155: Consent is NOT a Defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still hazing under Texas law. Courts recognize that consent given under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not voluntary.
• Criminal Penalties Escalate with Harm – Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor by default, becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and rises to a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability – The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing or if officers knew and failed to report it.
• Good-Faith Reporter Immunity – Students who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from their report. This includes amnesty for underage drinking when calling 911 in medical emergencies.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Different Paths to Accountability

Bayside families should understand the distinction between these legal avenues:

• Criminal Cases are brought by the state (prosecutor) and aim for punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Hazing can trigger charges including hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, and in fatal cases, manslaughter.
• Civil Cases are brought by victims or surviving families and aim for monetary compensation and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, and emotional distress.

Both can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, many hazing cases that don’t meet the high burden of criminal proof still result in substantial civil recoveries.

Federal Law Overlay: Additional Protections

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026).
• Title IX obligations trigger when hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility.
• Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics, which often overlap with hazing incidents involving assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Multiple parties can share responsibility, including:

• Individual students who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up
• Local chapter/organization and its officers
• National fraternity/sorority headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters
• University or governing board for negligence, deliberate indifference, or civil rights violations
• Third parties like landlords, property owners, bars, or security companies

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The tragedies that have unfolded at campuses nationwide provide painful but crucial lessons for Bayside families. These cases show predictable patterns, institutional failures, and legal precedents that directly apply to Texas situations.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern: A Repeated Script

The case of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University (2021) exemplifies the deadly “Big/Little” night formula. The 20-year-old Pi Kappa Alpha pledge was forced to consume nearly a full bottle of alcohol, died from alcohol poisoning, and his family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). Similarly, Max Gruver at LSU (2017), a Phi Delta Theta pledge, died during a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking, leading to the Max Gruver Act felony hazing law in Louisiana. Timothy Piazza at Penn State (2017) died from traumatic brain injuries after a Beta Theta Pi bid acceptance night with extreme drinking, captured on chapter cameras, with help delayed for hours. His case drove Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng at Baruch College (2013) died during a Pi Delta Psi “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat—blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years, and fined over $110,000. This case proves off-campus location doesn’t eliminate liability.

Athletic Program Hazing: Beyond Greek Life

The Northwestern University football scandal (2023-2025) revealed widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the program, resulting in multiple lawsuits, the head coach’s firing, and confidential settlements. This demonstrates hazing permeates big-money athletic programs, not just Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Bayside Families

Common threads in these tragedies include forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. Multi-million-dollar settlements and legislative reforms typically follow only after litigation exposes the truth. For Bayside families facing hazing at Texas universities, these national cases provide both warning and precedent: the same organizational patterns repeat, and justice is possible through experienced legal representation.

Texas University Focus: Where Bayside Students Attend

Bayside families often send students to universities throughout the Coastal Bend region and to major Texas hubs. Understanding the specific landscapes at these institutions is crucial for prevention and response.

Universities in the Coastal Bend & South Texas Region

While our children may attend schools across Texas, several institutions in our immediate region have active Greek life and student organizations that require vigilance.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Located just an hour from Bayside, TAMU-CC has growing Greek life with fraternities and sororities that engage in traditional rush and pledging processes. The university’s island location and commuter population create unique dynamics where off-campus hazing can occur in beach houses or rental properties.

University of Houston-Victoria
As part of the UH System, UHV serves many South Texas students. While smaller than the main Houston campus, it has recognized student organizations that must adhere to system-wide anti-hazing policies.

Local and Regional Considerations for Bayside Families:

• Hazing incidents in our region may involve multiple jurisdictional authorities—campus police, local sheriff departments (Refugio County Sheriff’s Office), and city police
• Medical treatment for hazing injuries often occurs at Refugio County Memorial Hospital or regional trauma centers in Corpus Christi or Victoria
• The close-knit nature of South Texas communities means rumors spread quickly, but victims often stay silent to avoid family embarrassment or community judgment—a dynamic abusers exploit
• Cultural factors in our predominantly conservative, family-oriented community can make reporting difficult: students may fear disappointing parents, harming family reputation, or being seen as “weak”

Major Texas Universities Attended by Bayside Students

Many Bayside high school graduates pursue education at Texas’s flagship institutions. These universities have documented hazing histories that every Coastal Bend parent should understand.

University of Houston (UH) – Active Litigation Example

Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu Chapter). This case, filed in late 2025, alleges systematic abuse that should concern every Bayside parent.

The hazing included:

• “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation carrying condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices
• Extreme physical abuse: sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, “save-your-brother” drills
• Cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass
• Simulated waterboarding: sprayed in face with hose “similar to waterboarding”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting, then repeated sprints
• The Nov 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats

The medical consequences were catastrophic: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels, and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The defendants include: University of Houston, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. After reports surfaced, Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on Nov 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on Nov 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement.

This case is not ancient history—it’s happening right now and demonstrates exactly how fraternity hazing operates at Texas universities. Media coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13 provides detailed accounts of the abuse.

UH’s Greek ecosystem includes numerous fraternities and sororities across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, MGC). The university maintains anti-hazing policies and reporting channels through the Dean of Students and campus police. For Bayside families with students at UH, understanding that even a major public research university can harbor such severe abuse is essential.

Texas A&M University System
Many Bayside students attend Texas A&M University in College Station or its system schools. A&M has faced serious hazing issues in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth, seeking over $1 million in damages.
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: As mentioned, this closer-to-home campus has its own Greek community requiring parental vigilance.

A&M handles hazing through Student Conduct and Corps regulations. The university’s culture of tradition can sometimes enable abusive behaviors masked as “character building.”

University of Texas at Austin
UT maintains a relatively transparent public hazing violations page that reveals ongoing issues:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, found to be hazing, chapter placed on probation.
• Various spirit organizations and other groups sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, or punishment-based practices.

UT’s transparency is better than many schools, but repeated violations show systemic issues. For Bayside families, UT’s public log can be valuable evidence if your child is hazed by an organization with prior violations.

Other Texas Universities
Southern Methodist University (SMU) has faced incidents like the 2017 Kappa Alpha Order case where new members were paddled, forced to drink, and deprived of sleep, resulting in chapter suspension. Baylor University dealt with a 2020 baseball hazing incident that suspended 14 players. Each institution has its own culture and challenges, but the pattern of abuse repeats.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records Directory for Bayside Families

If you are a parent in Bayside, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. We maintain a comprehensive Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine compiled from public records—IRS filings, university data, and organizational databases. This directory illustrates the extensive network of Greek organizations operating in Texas and near our community.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Relevant to Bayside Families

The following organizations are recorded in public filings and databases as operating in Texas. This list represents a fraction of the 1,423 Greek-related organizations tracked across 25 Texas metros but shows the scope of the system your child may encounter.

South Texas & Coastal Bend Area Organizations:

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN: 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 – IRS B83 filing
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN: 752609909 – Commerce, TX 75428 – IRS B83 filing
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 900293167 – Victoria, TX 77901 (University of Houston Victoria chapter) – IRS B83 filing
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN: 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter) – IRS B83 filing
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN: 831418972 – Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (Iota Phi chapter at TAMU-CC) – IRS B83 filing
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi Chapter – Corpus Christi Metro (TAMU-Kingsville chapter) – Cause IQ metro listing
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae – Corpus Christi Metro (Graduate chapter, founded 1952) – Cause IQ metro listing
• Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony – Corpus Christi, TX (TAMU-CC colony/chapter) – Cause IQ metro listing

Major University Hub Organizations (Where Bayside Students Often Attend):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN: 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 – IRS B83 filing
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN: 133048786 – College Station, TX 77845 – IRS B83 filing
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN: 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904 – IRS B83 filing
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN: 812525354 – College Station, TX 77845 (Theta Rho chapter at Texas A&M) – IRS B83 filing
• Eta Alpha House Corporation of Kappa Delta Sorority – EIN: 742930349 – College Station, TX 77840 – IRS B83 filing
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Eta Upsilon Chapter – College Station, TX (Texas A&M chapter) – Cause IQ metro listing
• Beta Theta Pi – Eta Chapter House Corp. – College Station, TX – Cause IQ metro listing
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (House corporation at University of Texas) – Cause IQ metro listing
• Delta Tau Delta Fraternity – Gamma Iota Chapter – Austin, TX (Chapter house at UT) – Cause IQ metro listing
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi – EIN: 746047117 – Austin, TX 78705 – IRS B83 filing

Texas-Wide Snapshot:
Our data tracks 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations in IRS B83 filings alone, plus 129 named organizations across 15 Texas metros in Cause IQ data. The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro has 188 Greek-related organizations; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has 510; Austin-Round Rock has 154. These organizations include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, honor societies, and educational foundations.

Why This Directory Matters for Bayside Families:
When hazing occurs, multiple entities may share liability: the local chapter, its housing corporation, alumni support organizations, and the national headquarters. By maintaining this public records intelligence, we ensure families never start from zero in identifying responsible parties. We already know the names, EINs, and mailing addresses of organizations that may hold insurance coverage and responsibility.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus Presence and National Histories

National fraternity and sorority histories matter profoundly for Bayside families because patterns of abuse repeat across chapters. When a Texas chapter engages in the same dangerous conduct that caused deaths or injuries elsewhere, that shows foreseeability—the national organization knew or should have known the risks.

Organizations with Documented National Hazing Histories:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): Stone Foltz alcohol poisoning death (BGSU, $10M settlement); David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement). Known for “Big/Little” drinking traditions.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple hazing deaths nationwide; traumatic brain injury case (University of Alabama, 2023); chemical burns case (Texas A&M, 2021); assault case (UT Austin, 2024). Historically one of the deadliest fraternities.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver death (LSU, led to felony hazing law). Known for “Bible study” drinking games.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey death (FSU, 2017); currently our firm’s Leonel Bermudez case (UH, 2025). Pattern of physical and alcohol hazing.
• Phi Gamma Delta (ΦΓΔ/FIJI): Danny Santulli catastrophic brain injury (University of Missouri, 2021, multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants). Severe alcohol poisoning cases.
• Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ): Chad Meredith drowning death (University of Miami, $12.6M verdict); ongoing rhabdomyolysis case (Texas A&M, 2023).
• Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ): Timothy Piazza death (Penn State, led to Pennsylvania anti-hazing law). Security camera footage showed delayed medical care.

These national patterns establish that certain hazing methods are entrenched in organizational culture. When the same scripts appear at Texas chapters, it supports arguments that nationals failed to enforce their own policies or meaningfully address known risks.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

For Bayside families facing the nightmare of hazing, understanding how cases are built can provide clarity and hope. The process involves meticulous evidence collection, strategic legal arguments, and navigating complex insurance and institutional defenses.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (The Most Important Evidence in 2025):

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, fraternity-specific apps
• Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok comments, Facebook Messenger
• Recovered deleted messages: Digital forensics can often retrieve “disappearing” messages
  TL;DR: Screenshot everything immediately. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains best practices.

Photos & Videos:

• Injury documentation (multiple angles, with scale reference like a coin)
• Event locations (houses, rooms, venues)
• Objects used in hazing (paddles, alcohol bottles, props)
• Content filmed by participants during events

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
• Emails/texts from officers about activities
• National policies and training materials (obtained through discovery)

University Records:

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Incident reports to campus police or conduct offices
• Clery Act reports and similar disclosures
• Internal emails among administrators about the organization

Medical & Psychological Records:

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Surgery and rehabilitation notes
• Toxicology and lab reports (critical for alcohol poisoning or rhabdomyolysis cases)
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges or new members
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Roommates, RAs, coaches, bystanders
• Expert witnesses on Greek culture, trauma psychology, medical issues

Damages: What Can Be Recovered

Texas law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages in hazing cases:

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical expenses: Past and future ER care, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, medications
• Lost income & earning capacity: Time off work, delayed graduation, reduced lifetime earnings if permanently disabled
• Educational costs: Tuition for semesters missed, lost scholarships, transfer expenses
• Other expenses: Property damage, relocation costs, funeral/burial in death cases

Non-Economic Damages (Subjective but Real Harm):

• Physical pain and suffering from injuries
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life (can’t participate in activities they loved)
• Reputational harm if incident was publicized

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Grief and emotional suffering of family members

Punitive Damages may be available in cases involving particularly reckless, willful, or malicious conduct, especially when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them.

Overcoming Common Institutional Defenses

Fraternities, sororities, and universities employ predictable defense strategies that experienced hazing attorneys anticipate:

1. “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law (§ 37.155) explicitly states consent is not a defense. We show coercion through power imbalance, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion.

2. “Rogue Chapter / National Didn’t Know”: We subpoena national records showing prior complaints, incident reports, and pattern evidence across chapters proving foreseeable risk.

3. “Off-Campus / Not Our Property”: Liability extends based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Many major cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) succeeded despite off-campus locations.

4. “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show policies were window-dressing—un enforced, with minimal consequences for prior violations.

5. “University Sovereign Immunity”: Public universities have some protection, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and suing individuals in personal capacity.

6. “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue negligent supervision is covered even if hazing was intentional, and pursue all potential policies (chapter, national, university, homeowner’s).

Our insider knowledge of insurance defense tactics—thanks to Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney at a national firm—gives us unique advantage in navigating these coverage disputes and countering lowball settlement strategies.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Bayside Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Bayside Student May Be Being Hazed:

• Physical signs: Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts; extreme exhaustion; weight changes; sleep deprivation; injuries to hands/back/legs; chemical burns or rashes
• Behavioral changes: Sudden secrecy about activities; withdrawal from family/friends; personality shifts (anxiety, depression, irritability); defensive when asked; fear of “letting the chapter down”
• Academic red flags: Grades dropping; missing classes; skipping assignments for “mandatory” events
• Digital behavior: Constant phone monitoring for group chats; anxiety about messages; obsessive deletion of messages; social media posts showing concerning activities

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally):

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are they respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
2. “What do they ask new members to do?”
3. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable or that you wish you didn’t have to do?”
4. “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
5. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to, or would there be consequences?”

If You Suspect Hazing:

• Prioritize safety: If in danger, call 911 then us at 1-888-ATTY-911
• Document everything: Write down what your child says with dates/times; screenshot messages; photograph injuries
• Report strategically: Contact campus authorities (Dean of Students, campus police) and/or local police if crimes occurred
• Consult an attorney early: We can help preserve evidence, navigate university processes, and protect against retaliation

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would my parents or the university approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this?

If you answered YES to any, it’s likely hazing.

How to Exit Safely:

• If in immediate danger: Call 911
• To quit/de-pledge: Tell someone outside the org first, then send written notice to chapter leadership
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where you might be pressured or retaliated against
• If fearing retaliation, report that fear to Dean of Students and campus police

Evidence Collection for Students:

1. Screenshot group chats with timestamps and participant names visible
2. Record conversations (Texas is a one-party consent state)
3. Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
4. Save everything digital—don’t delete even if embarrassed
5. Get medical documentation and tell providers you were hazed
6. Identify witnesses with names and contact information

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting your child delete messages – Preserve everything immediately; deleted evidence looks like cover-up
2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly – They’ll lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
3. Signing university “release” forms – You may waive your right to sue for inadequate settlements
4. Posting details on social media – Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
5. Letting your child go to “one last meeting” – They’ll be pressured, intimidated, or extract damaging statements
6. Waiting “to see how the university handles it” – Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
7. Talking to insurance adjusters without a lawyer – Recorded statements are used against you; early settlements are lowball

Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case for more guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. Private universities have fewer immunity protections. Every case is unique—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Learn more in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

About Attorney911: Why Bayside Families Choose Us for Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™) brings unique qualifications to hazing cases affecting Bayside families.

Our Competitive Advantages for Hazing Litigation:

Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña’s Defense Background)
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello’s Experience)
Ralph is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar defendants. His federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) and membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) signal we’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience
We have recovered millions in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs for brain injuries, permanent disabilities, and catastrophic harm. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability.

Investigative Depth & Expert Network
We deploy medical experts (rhabdomyolysis, TBI, PTSD specialists), digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, Greek life culture experts, institutional policy experts, economists, and life-care planners. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Spanish-Language Services for Our Community
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish—Se habla Español—allowing us to serve Hispanic families in Bayside and throughout South Texas with cultural understanding and clear communication.

Proven Results in Similar Cases
Our active litigation in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates we’re already fighting one of Texas’s most serious hazing cases right now. We’ve secured multi-million dollar settlements in workplace injury, wrongful death, and complex institutional cases.

Call to Action for Bayside Families

If you or your child has experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether here in the Coastal Bend region or at a university hours from home—we want to hear from you. Families in Bayside, Refugio, Woodsboro, Tivoli, and throughout Refugio County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Attorney911 Today:

• 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 or lupe@atty911.com (for Spanish consultation)

Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Whether you’re in Bayside or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions responsible must be held accountable, not just for compensation, but to prevent this from happening to another family in our community.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’re here to help.

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 phone 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

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