The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits & Rights for Beeville, Texas Families

If you are a parent in Beeville, Texas, and your phone rings with a call from your college student—a call filled with hesitation, fear, or confusion about what’s happening in their fraternity, sorority, or campus organization—you are not alone. Right now, from our Houston office, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, and 13 fraternity leaders. This case, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 reports, involves pledges being forced to carry humiliating “fanny packs,” sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and subjected to extreme workouts that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, leading to brown urine and a four-day hospitalization.

This is not an isolated incident in a faraway state. It happened in Houston, and the patterns of coercion, secrecy, and institutional failure it reveals are happening on campuses across Texas where Beeville families send their children. Whether your student is at a local South Texas college, a major university hours away, or anywhere in between, this guide is for you. It explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, your family’s legal rights under Texas law, and how an experienced hazing litigation firm can help you seek accountability and prevent this from happening to another family.

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).
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention. Preserve evidence: screenshot group chats, photograph injuries, save physical items. Write down everything. Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post on social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not just “pranks” or “hard partying.” It is a calculated system of abuse designed to create power dynamics through fear, humiliation, and coercion. For Beeville families whose children may be new to the Greek life or organizational cultures at major Texas universities, recognizing modern hazing is the first step.

A Modern Taxonomy of Abuse

Hazing today falls into three escalating tiers:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Psychological Control
This often appears as “tradition” but establishes dangerous power imbalances. It includes mandatory, all-hours “study blocks” that interfere with class; being on call 24/7 as a designated driver; required “fanny packs” with humiliating contents (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case); social isolation from non-members; and being forced to answer to derogatory nicknames. Digitally, it manifests as mandatory 24/7 GroupMe or WhatsApp responses, forced location sharing via Snap Map or Life360, and social media policing.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
This causes clear emotional or physical distress. It includes sleep deprivation via 3 AM wake-up calls; forced consumption of disgusting substances (milk, hot dogs, raw eggs until vomiting); “smokings” or extreme calisthenics presented as “conditioning”; verbal abuse and “grilling” sessions; and public humiliation like forced singing in crowded restaurants or wearing degrading costumes.

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
These acts have a high potential for catastrophic injury or death. This is the forced alcohol consumption of “Big/Little” nights that killed Stone Foltz at Bowling Green; the physical beatings and paddling seen in Corps of Cadets cases; dangerous “tests” like the blindfolded tackling that killed Michael Deng; sexualized hazing and assault; and being exposed to extreme cold or chemicals, like the SAE case at Texas A&M where pledges suffered chemical burns from industrial cleaner.

The Digital Cover-Up Culture

A critical modern shift is the use of technology to both facilitate hazing and hide it. Hazing is planned in encrypted group chats (Signal, Telegram), recorded for the entertainment of members on private Instagram stories, and then evidence is systematically deleted when rumors of an investigation surface. Organizations coach members on “what to say” to university officials and parents, creating a united front of silence. This is why immediate evidence preservation—learning how to use your phone to document a legal case—is so critical.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes & Your Family’s Rights

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, and Beeville families need to understand how they apply, whether an incident occurs at a local community college or a major state university.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Law

The Texas hazing statute is found in the Education Code, specifically designed to address campus-related conduct.

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of joining, maintaining membership in, or holding office in any organization. The act must endanger the mental or physical health or safety of the student. It can occur on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes bodily injury, it’s a Class A misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it is a state jail felony. Importantly, failing to report hazing and retaliating against someone who reports are also crimes.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is paramount. Even if your child “went along with it” or felt pressured to agree, their consent is not a legal defense to a hazing charge. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): A person who reports hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability for that report. This encourages bystanders to call for help.

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges: Two Paths to Accountability

It’s crucial to understand the dual legal tracks:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the State of Texas (e.g., Bee County District Attorney, Harris County DA). The goal is punishment: jail time, fines, probation. A criminal conviction can help a civil case but is not required to file one.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, future care) and accountability. We file suits against every responsible party: the individual students who acted, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority headquarters, the housing corporation, and sometimes the university itself for negligent supervision.

Federal Overlays: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

Federal law intertwines with state hazing cases:

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, the university has specific investigative duties. Failure to respond properly can create a separate federal claim.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including aggravated assault and liquor law violations, which often accompany hazing.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publish more transparent hazing data and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Keep Repeating

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not random. They follow predictable scripts—scripts that are replaying at Texas schools. Understanding these patterns shows Beeville families that what happened to their child is part of a known, preventable cycle.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: “Big/Little” & Bid Nights

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died. Settlement: $10 million.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge forced to drink in “Bible study” game; died. Led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge drank handle of liquor at “Big Brother” event; died.

Pattern Takeaway: The “Big/Little” or “bid acceptance” drinking event is a lethally common fraternity tradition. Nationals know this. When they fail to eradicate it, they can be held liable.

The Physical Abuse & Ritual Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Pledge died after falling down stairs during alcohol hazing; brothers delayed calling 911. Dozens faced charges; led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy’s Law.”

Pattern Takeaway: Ritualized physical abuse, especially when moved off-campus to “retreats,” and delays in seeking medical help dramatically increase liability.

The Catastrophic Injury Script

• Danny Santulli (Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent brain damage from alcohol poisoning; now requires 24/7 care. Family settled with 22 defendants.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges suffered severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts after substances like industrial cleaner were poured on them.

Pattern Takeaway: Hazing doesn’t have to be fatal to devastate a life. Courts award significant damages for permanent disabilities, and multiple entities share liability.

Texas University Focus: Where Beeville Families Send Their Kids

Beeville is in Bee County, in the heart of South Texas. Families here have deep ties to local institutions and send their children to universities across the state. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is critical.

For Beeville Families: Local & Regional Campuses

Texas A&M University-Kingsville: Just 50 miles from Beeville, this is a primary destination for local students. As a public university with Greek life, it falls under Texas hazing statutes. Any incident here would involve local jurisdiction in Kleberg County.

Coastal Bend College (Beeville Campus): While community colleges have less traditional Greek life, hazing can occur in sports teams, clubs, or off-campus social groups affiliated with students who also attend larger universities.

Major Statewide Universities Attended by Beeville Students

Beeville families also send children to flagship schools across Texas. The hazing risks and institutional responses at these universities directly impact your family.

University of Houston (UH) & The Flagship Case

UH is a major draw for Southeast Texas students. The ongoing Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is a blueprint for hazing liability.

• The Conduct: As reported by media, Bermudez was subjected to a “pledge fanny pack” rule, forced overnight driving, hose spraying “like waterboarding,” and a November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• The Lawsuit: Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit naming UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members. This demonstrates holding all entities accountable.
• For Beeville Families: This case shows that even at a large, urban commuter school, systemic hazing occurs. UHPD and Houston Police Department would have jurisdiction for off-campus hazing locations.

Texas A&M University System (Including TAMU-Kingsville & TAMU-College Station)

The A&M system, with its strong Corps of Cadets tradition, has faced severe hazing allegations.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth and subjected to other degrading acts. He sued for over $1 million.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): As noted above, this lawsuit alleged pledges were burned by harsh substances.
• For Beeville Families: If your student is in the Corps or Greek life at any A&M campus, you must be vigilant about physical and psychological hazing disguised as “discipline” or “tradition.” Jurisdiction lies with university police and the local county (Brazos County for College Station, Kleberg County for Kingsville).

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin is one of the most transparent universities regarding hazing, maintaining a public online log of violations—a resource for families.

• Public Hazing Log: The university’s website lists sanctions against organizations. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was placed on probation in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• SAE Assault Lawsuit (2024): A student alleged an assault at an SAE party that resulted in a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractured tibia, suing for over $1 million.
• For Beeville Families: UT’s transparency is a double-edged sword—it shows hazing is ongoing despite known sanctions. The public log can be used as evidence of a pattern. Jurisdiction involves UTPD and Austin Police.

Other Texas Universities (Texas State, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU)

The patterns hold statewide. Baylor has faced baseball team hazing suspensions. SMU has suspended chapters like Kappa Alpha Order for paddling and forced drinking. The common thread is that national organizations with known hazing histories operate chapters at every major Texas school.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Organizations Behind the Letters in Texas

When your child is hazed by “Pi Kappa Phi” at UH or “Sigma Alpha Epsilon” at Texas A&M, they are not just dealing with a local club. They are facing a national organization with a documented history, insurance policies, and legal playbooks. Our firm’s Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks this complex web.

Public Records Directory: The Backbone of Greek Life in Texas

Through IRS filings and public databases, we maintain intelligence on over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This means we don’t start from zero when investigating a case. For example, our data includes entities like:

• Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity – Headquarters in Charlotte, NC, with chapters nationwide.
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515, based in Frisco, TX.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated – EIN 88-2755427, based in San Marcos, TX.
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786, based in College Station, TX.
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Multiple Texas chapters recorded with EINs 47-5370943 (Houston) and 83-1418972 (Corpus Christi).

This is a small sample from the 125+ Texas-registered Greek entities in IRS records. For Beeville families, this demonstrates that behind the local chapter letters are formal organizations with tax IDs, mailing addresses, and often, separate housing corporations that hold insurance—all potential defendants in a lawsuit.

National Histories Create “Foreseeability”

A core legal concept in holding national fraternities liable is foreseeability. If a national headquarters knows that a specific activity (like a “Big/Little” drinking night) has caused deaths at other chapters, it is “foreseeable” that the same activity at a Texas chapter could cause death or injury. Their failure to effectively stop it can constitute negligence. The national cases of Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha), Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta), and Andrew Coffey (Pi Kappa Phi) are not just tragedies; they are legal precedents that establish what these nationals should have known.

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

Pursuing a hazing case requires a strategic, evidence-driven approach from day one. This is where an experienced firm’s methodology makes the difference between a covered-up incident and a successful claim for accountability.

The Critical Evidence Timeline

Evidence in hazing cases is perishable. Group chats are deleted within days. Witnesses are coached. Our immediate action protocol is designed to capture proof before it vanishes.

1. Digital Evidence (Most Critical): Screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats showing planning, boasting, or discussions of the incident. Saved Instagram stories, Snapchat memories, and TikTok videos. Email chains with chapter leadership. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted data when necessary.
2. Physical & Medical Evidence: Photographs of injuries (with a ruler for scale) taken immediately and over subsequent days to show progression. Saved clothing with stains or damage. All medical records—ER reports, hospitalization notes, lab tests (like the critical creatine kinase levels showing rhabdomyolysis), and psychiatric evaluations for PTSD or anxiety.
3. Institutional Records: Through discovery, we subpoena the university’s prior disciplinary files on the chapter, the national fraternity’s risk management reports, and communications between the chapter and its advisors. For public schools like UH or Texas A&M, public records requests can also yield information.

Identifying All Liable Parties

Our goal is to identify every entity that shares responsibility to ensure full accountability and access all available insurance coverage. The defendant universe typically includes:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned and carried out the hazing.
• The Local Chapter: As an unincorporated association or named entity.
• The Chapter Housing Corporation: Often a separate legal entity that owns the house and carries insurance (e.g., “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc”).
• The National Fraternity/Sorority: For negligent supervision, training, and failure to act on known patterns.
• The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to a known risk, or Title IX failures.
• Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that furnished alcohol to minors.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish egregious conduct. Recoverable damages for a Beeville family can include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospital, surgery, therapy, lifelong care for catastrophic injuries). Lost wages from missed work or school. Loss of 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. For a college student, this can include the loss of their “college experience.”
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or malicious conduct, courts can award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

We work with life-care planners, economists, and vocational experts to accurately project the full lifetime cost of an injury, ensuring settlements or verdicts truly cover your family’s needs.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Beeville Parents, Students & Witnesses

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Listen & Support: If your child confides in you, listen without judgment. Assure them their safety is paramount and you will help them, no matter what.
2. Secure Medical Care: Prioritize health. Go to the ER if needed. Tell doctors the injuries are from hazing so it’s documented.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot EVERY relevant digital communication. Photograph injuries. Save clothing. Write down a timeline with names, dates, and locations.
4. Report Strategically: You can report to the university’s Dean of Students and campus police. However, be aware that the university’s primary interest may be limiting its own liability. Consult an attorney before making detailed statements.
5. Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not confront the fraternity. Do not sign any documents from the university or an insurance adjuster. Do not let your child delete anything. Do not post about it on social media. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are My Rights?

• The Consent Trap: Remember, under Texas law, your “consent” is not a defense for them. If you felt pressured, coerced, or afraid of being kicked out, it was not true consent.
• Safe Exit: Your safety comes first. You have the right to leave any situation and resign your membership at any time. If you fear retaliation, report that fear to campus authorities and document any threats.
• Good Faith Reporting: Texas law protects you if you report hazing in good faith or call 911 in a medical emergency, even if you were drinking underage.

Frequently Asked Questions from Beeville Families

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M for hazing?
A: Yes, but sovereign immunity provides some protection. We overcome this by alleging gross negligence, intentional acts, or by suing individual employees in their personal capacity. Universities often settle to avoid negative publicity.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the incident. However, nuances like the “discovery rule” or tolling for minors may apply. This is why you must act quickly. Learn more in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus Airbnb or house?
A: Location does not shield organizations from liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible for off-campus conduct they sponsor or know about. 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 fees or hourly costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Why Attorney911 for Beeville Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates with the specific experience, resources, and determination to take on powerful institutions. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) serves Beeville and families across Texas with a unique combination of skills.

Our Proven Litigation Advantage

• Insider Insurance Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies evaluate claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants (Ralph Manginello): Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and aggressive defense teams of national fraternities and major universities. We’ve faced them before.
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start investigations from scratch. We maintain detailed data on over 1,423 Greek organizations in Texas. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national entities that share liability.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise families through both processes.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of South Texas, including Beeville’s Hispanic community, in their preferred language.

A Commitment to Accountability & Prevention

We take these cases because we believe in accountability. The Leonel Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is not just about compensation; it’s about forcing change. As Mr. Peña told the media, “If this prevents harm to another person… Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call to Action for Beeville Families

If hazing has impacted your child at Texas A&M-Kingsville, the University of Houston, Texas A&M College Station, UT Austin, or any other campus, you have the right to answers and accountability. The institutions involved will have lawyers protecting their interests from day one. Your family deserves the same level of advocacy.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you make the best decision for your family’s future. We serve families across Texas, including here in Beeville and throughout Bee County.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Se habla Español.

You do not have to navigate this crisis alone. Let us use our experience, data, and determination to help you seek justice.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• 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 Videos:

• Using Your Cellphone as Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website:

• Main Site & Contact: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal advice, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation regarding your individual situation.