Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: What Coldspring Families Need to Know About Fraternity, Sorority & Campus Abuse

If your child left Coldspring for college seeking friendship and tradition, only to find humiliation and danger instead, you are not alone. Right now, across Texas, families just like yours are discovering that the campus organizations their children trusted have subjected them to violent hazing—forced drinking, sleep deprivation, beatings, and psychological torment disguised as “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” When the call comes that your student is in the hospital, or when you see the fear in their eyes during a visit home, the confusion and anger are overwhelming.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Coldspring, San Jacinto County, and across the Piney Woods region of Texas. If your child attends Sam Houston State University in nearby Huntsville, the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, or any other Texas campus, you need to understand what modern hazing truly entails, how Texas law protects victims, and what legal options exist for accountability and recovery.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We represent hazing victims and their families in Texas, including in the ongoing, serious case against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Our goal here is to provide you with the knowledge and resources to protect your child and your family’s rights.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency in Coldspring

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 legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours, you must:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek evaluation. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted: Take screenshots of all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items involved.
3. Write Everything Down: Document names, dates, locations, and what your child tells you while memories are fresh.
4. Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears rapidly. We can help secure evidence and navigate the initial crisis. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

DO NOT:

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

1. Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Party Pranks”

For families in Coldspring, the idea of hazing might seem like a distant, sensationalized news story. The reality is that hazing has evolved into a calculated, often digitally-coordinated form of abuse that thrives on secrecy and power imbalance. Texas law defines hazing broadly, but for a parent, it’s any coerced activity tied to joining or staying in a group that endangers your child’s physical or mental health.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Servitude
This is the grooming phase, designed to establish control. It includes forced servitude (cleaning houses, running all-hours errands, being an on-call driver), social isolation from non-members, and being subjected to derogatory names or “pledge” identities. It often starts with “mandatory” meetings that interfere with academics and sleep.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
This escalates to causing deliberate discomfort and humiliation. It includes sleep deprivation through late-night “study sessions,” forced consumption of vile food or substances (spoiled milk, hot sauce, raw eggs), verbal abuse and “grilling” sessions, and strenuous, punitive calisthenics framed as “workouts.”

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
This is where students suffer catastrophic injury or death. It encompasses forced alcohol consumption to the point of poisoning (the cause of most hazing deaths), physical beatings or paddling, dangerous physical “tests” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized hazing and assault, and exposure to extreme elements.

The Digital Landscape of Abuse

Today’s hazing is documented and coordinated on smartphones. Pledges are tracked via location-sharing apps, harassed through 24/7 group chats they must respond to instantly, and humiliated through coerced social media posts. This digital trail is often the most critical evidence in a case, but it disappears quickly when members panic and delete messages.

2. Texas Law & Liability: The Legal Framework Protecting Coldspring Families

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, and understanding them is the first step toward holding perpetrators accountable.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The law that directly applies to your child’s situation is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Here’s what Coldspring parents need to know:

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed at a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. This applies on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime.
  • 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.
• Critical Protections:
  1. Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it is not a legal defense. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
  2. 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 medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911.
  3. Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.

Civil Liability: The Path to Financial Recovery and Accountability

A criminal case, handled by the state, seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit, which your family can file, seeks compensation for damages and institutional change. In a civil hazing case, we can seek to hold multiple parties liable:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned and carried out the acts.
• The Local Chapter: As an organization that authorized or failed to stop the conduct.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or enforce policies despite knowing the risks from past incidents nationwide.
• The University: For negligent supervision, if they knew or should have known about a dangerous pattern and failed to act.
• Property Owners & Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or venues that allowed illegal activities.

Federal Overlays: Title IX and The Stop Campus Hazing Act

Federal law also plays a role. The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires colleges receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered, creating another avenue for institutional accountability.

3. A Live Texas Case: Why the UH Pi Kappa Phi Lawsuit Matters to Coldspring

You do not have to wonder what a serious hazing case looks like. One is unfolding right now in Harris County, and we are leading the fight. This is not a historical example; it is active, current proof of the brutality that occurs on Texas campuses and the legal battle required to confront it.

Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi, et al. – A $10 Million Lawsuit

In late 2025, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The allegations, detailed in reports by Click2Houston and ABC13, describe a systematic campaign of abuse:

• Humiliation & Control: Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices. They endured enforced dress codes, hours-long “interviews,” and overnight chauffeuring duties.
• Physical Torture: Hazing included extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” In one incident, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour.
• Forced Consumption: Bermudez was forced to consume excessive amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint.
• The Catastrophic Injury: After a November 3rd workout involving 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, Bermudez’s body broke down. He developed rhabdomyolysis, a severe skeletal muscle breakdown that led to 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 lawsuit names 13 individual fraternity leaders, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. Following the exposure, the national headquarters suspended the chapter, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

Why This Case is Your Blueprint:
This case demonstrates everything Coldspring families must understand: the specific methods of abuse, the severe medical consequences, and the full universe of entities that can be held responsible—from individual students to national organizations and the university itself. This is the level of litigation we are prepared to handle for your family.

4. Where Coldspring Students Go: Hazing Realities at Texas Universities

Families in Coldspring and San Jacinto County send their students to a variety of Texas institutions, from nearby state schools to major flagship universities. Hazing is a risk across this spectrum.

The Local & Regional Campus Connection

Many Coldspring students choose universities close to home or within the East Texas region. It is crucial to understand that hazing is not limited to large, Greek-heavy schools.

• Sam Houston State University (Huntsville): Just a short drive from Coldspring, SHSU has an active Greek life community and numerous student organizations. Any group with a power dynamic between new and old members can harbor hazing.
• Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches): Another common choice for East Texas students, with its own history of Greek life and campus traditions requiring scrutiny.
• Lamar University (Beaumont): As a public university with Greek organizations, it operates under the same Texas hazing laws and faces similar risks.

The Major Texas University Landscape

Many Coldspring families also send children to the state’s largest universities, which have documented hazing incidents and patterns.

University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state. Public records show recurring issues:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Cited for forced alcohol consumption and physically demanding activities.
  These public records are vital evidence, showing the university’s prior knowledge of problematic patterns within specific groups.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets
Texas A&M’s unique culture presents specific hazing risks in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (~2021): Pledges alleged being doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• 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 lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University
These private, prominent universities are not immune.

• SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor University’s baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation.

The common thread is that no campus, large or small, public or private, is hazing-free. The institutional response often focuses on controlling the narrative, which is why families need independent legal counsel.

5. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Tracking the Organizations Behind the Letters

When you send your child to a university, you see the Greek letters on a t-shirt or the name of a club. What you don’t see is the complex network of legal entities that own property, hold insurance, and bear ultimate responsibility. Our firm maintains a proprietary data engine built from public records to map this exact landscape. For Coldspring families, this means we don’t start from zero.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Coldspring Families

The following are real examples of Texas-registered organizations drawn from IRS and public filings. This illustrates the depth of our investigative starting point.

Examples of Texas Greek Entities (IRS B83 Filings):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN 27-3662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 36-4091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (Xi Chi)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 90-0293166 – College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 47-5370943 – Houston, TX 77204 (Theta Delta)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Zeta Eta – EIN 75-6060974 – Commerce, TX 75429 (Texas A&M University-Commerce)

Metro-Level Greek Presence:
Our data tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. For example, the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro, which is within reach for many Coldspring families, has 188 such organizations. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro has over 510. These are not just social clubs; they are legal entities with tax IDs, insurance policies, and assets that can be pursued in litigation.

Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
When hazing occurs, the first defense from national organizations is often, “This was a rogue chapter; we didn’t know.” Our intelligence engine helps dismantle that claim by immediately identifying:

1. The exact legal name and EIN of the local housing corporation or alumni chapter.
2. The network of related entities across the state.
3. The national organization’s footprint in Texas, proving they have the means and duty to supervise.

This investigatory depth is why we were able to swiftly file a comprehensive lawsuit against the entire ecosystem behind the UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter. We apply the same rigor to every case.

6. National Patterns, Local Harm: How Fraternity Histories Fuel Liability

The hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not an isolated anomaly. It follows a national script written by decades of similar incidents. When we take a case for a Coldspring family, we research this national pattern to prove that the harm was foreseeable and preventable.

Repeating the Deadly Script: National Case Histories

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green State University (2021) from forced alcohol consumption during a “Big/Little” night. His family secured a $10 million settlement. David Bogenberger died at Northern Illinois University (2012) in a similar alcohol hazing, leading to a $14 million settlement.
• Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza died at Penn State (2017) after a bid-acceptance drinking night and delayed help. The case led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver died at LSU (2017) during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced lawsuits nationwide, including a traumatic brain injury case at the University of Alabama and the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI): Danny Santulli at the University of Missouri (2021) suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking, resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

The Legal Power of “Pattern Evidence”:
In court, we use these national histories to show that the national fraternity headquarters knew or should have known that their chapters were engaging in high-risk, traditional behaviors like forced drinking games. Their generic anti-hazing policies are shown to be ineffective window-dressing when the same tragedies recur. This pattern evidence is crucial for overcoming defenses, securing larger settlements, and in some cases, obtaining punitive damages to punish reckless disregard for safety.

7. Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Legal Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex forensic and legal undertaking. It requires an attorney who is both a compassionate advocate and a relentless investigator.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

We focus on collecting and preserving:

• Digital Communications: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), text messages, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, and emails. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
• Visual Evidence: Photos and videos taken by members during events, social media posts, and location data.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, minutes from chapter meetings, and communications with national headquarters.
• Institutional Records: Prior disciplinary records from the university, campus police reports, and Clery Act logs. We use public records requests and discovery to obtain these.
• Medical & Psychological Records: Documentation of physical injuries (ER reports, lab results for conditions like rhabdomyolysis) and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.

Comprehensive Damages for Coldspring Families

A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, costs for psychological counseling, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unspeakable event of a hazing death, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and damages for grief, loss of companionship, and emotional trauma.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

National fraternities and universities have high-powered defense lawyers and complex insurance policies. Common defenses we anticipate and defeat include:

• “The Victim Consented”: We cite Texas law §37.155, which voids this defense.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use pattern evidence and prior incident reports to show national knowledge and negligence.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We argue foreseeability and the organization’s control over member behavior regardless of location.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue that the negligence of the national organization or university in supervising the chapter is a covered claim.

Our insider advantage is critical here. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how these insurers evaluate claims, set reserves, and employ delay tactics. We use that knowledge to counter their strategies at every turn.

8. Practical Guides & FAQs for Coldspring Parents and Students

A Parent’s Action Plan

1. Listen Without Judgment: If your child opens up, assure them their safety is your only priority.
2. Secure Medical Care: Get a full evaluation. Tell doctors the injuries may be hazing-related.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything. Do not delete.
4. Document: Write a detailed timeline with names, dates, and locations.
5. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police and the Dean of Students, but consult a lawyer first to understand the implications.
6. Consult a Hazing Attorney Immediately: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 to protect your child’s rights and the integrity of the evidence.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them time to destroy evidence and coordinate stories.
• Signing university settlement offers without an attorney’s review.
• Posting details on social media, which can be used by defense attorneys.
• Waiting too long. The Texas statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years, but evidence vanishes much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes, depending on the facts. Public universities have some legal protections, but we can sue for gross negligence or violations of duty. Private universities like SMU and Baylor can also be held liable.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for injury cases. This means there are no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Q: Will my child’s name be public?
A: We strive to protect our clients’ privacy. Many cases settle confidentially before a public trial is necessary. We can seek protective orders from the court to seal sensitive information.

Q: What is the first step?
A: Contact us for a free, completely confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options with clarity and honesty. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or visit https://attorney911.com.

9. Why Attorney911 for Your Coldspring Family’s Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates with the experience, resources, and determination to take on powerful institutions. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) was built for legal emergencies exactly like this.

Proven Institutional Litigation Experience

• BP Texas City Explosion Litigation: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in litigating against BP following the catastrophic 2005 refinery explosion. This proven experience against billion-dollar defendants translates directly to facing national fraternities and university systems with unlimited legal budgets.
• Federal Court Admitted: We are admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, equipped for complex federal litigation that may arise under Title IX or other federal laws.

The Insurance Insider Advantage

Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He spent years on the other side, learning how large insurance companies value claims, fight coverage, and drag out cases to pressure families. He now uses that insider knowledge exclusively to benefit victims, ensuring our clients are never at a strategic disadvantage when negotiating with fraternity and university insurers.

A Data-Driven Investigative Approach

As demonstrated by our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we don’t accept cases blindly. We investigate them thoroughly from day one. We have a network of medical experts, digital forensics specialists, and economists ready to build an unassailable case that maximizes recovery and accountability.

Compassionate, Client-Centered Advocacy

We understand the trauma your family is enduring. We will guide you through every step with clear communication and unwavering support. We fight not just for compensation, but for the answers, validation, and institutional changes that can prevent future tragedies.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family in Coldspring, San Jacinto County, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers working to protect themselves. You need a dedicated team working for you.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 today.

• Call our Legal Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Se habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

During your free consultation, we will listen, evaluate your situation, and explain your options with absolute honesty. We serve clients from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we stand ready to help your family secure justice, recovery, and peace of mind.

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.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
https://attorney911.com