Hazing Lawyer for City of Gregory, Texas: Your Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Accountability

If Your Student Was Harmed by Hazing in Gregory or Any Texas Campus, We Can Help

For families in Gregory and across San Patricio County, sending a child to college represents a major milestone filled with hope. That hope can turn to nightmare when hazing—the brutal, hidden abuse within fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, and campus organizations—shatters a student’s health and future. Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and individual fraternity leaders. This case, involving forced extreme workouts, humiliation, and life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, shows exactly what Texas families are up against.

If you are a parent in Gregory whose child has been injured, hospitalized, or traumatized by hazing at any Texas university—whether at nearby Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, a regional campus, or a major hub like UT Austin or Texas A&M in College Station—you are not alone. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) serves families across Texas, including right here in Gregory and San Patricio County, with the deep investigative resources, legal experience, and institutional-fighting capability needed to hold every responsible party accountable.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies in Gregory

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 your student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted: Screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical items.
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, post details on public social media, or let your child delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears fast. We can help you preserve it and protect your rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Gregory Families

Hazing is not “boys will be boys” or harmless tradition. Under Texas law, it is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. For Gregory parents, understanding the modern forms is critical, as tactics have evolved to avoid detection.

Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the deadliest pattern. It includes forced consumption during “Big/Little” nights, lineup drinking games, or “bible study” trivia where wrong answers mean drinking. The goal is often rapid, dangerous intoxication.

Physical Hazing: This ranges from brutal paddling and beatings to extreme, punitive calisthenics designed to cause collapse. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown that floods the kidneys with toxins and can cause permanent organ damage. Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements are also common.

Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: This includes forced nudity, degrading costumes, simulating sexual acts, verbal abuse, isolation, and public shaming. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case—filled with condoms, sex toys, and humiliating items—is a textbook example meant to break down dignity.

Digital Hazing: Today’s hazing lives on smartphones. Gregory students may be subjected to 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), forced to share their location, required to post embarrassing content on social media, or threatened if they don’t respond instantly to messages at all hours.

The “It’s Optional” Loophole: Organizations often frame abusive activities as “voluntary” to create legal cover. In reality, refusal means social exclusion, being denied a “Big,” or failing the pledge process—a coercive choice that doesn’t protect them from liability.

Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and other campus clubs. If your child from Gregory is coming home with unexplained injuries, severe exhaustion, personality changes, or secretive behavior about their campus group, trust your instincts.

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

Texas has specific statutes that govern hazing and outline who can be held accountable. Understanding this framework is the first step toward seeking justice.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

The law defines hazing broadly and includes key provisions critical for victims:

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense. Courts recognize the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• Immunity for Reporting: Good-faith reports to law enforcement or the university are protected from civil or criminal liability, encouraging bystanders to call for help.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

A civil case seeks financial compensation and accountability. Potentially liable parties include:

1. Individual Students: The members who planned, carried out, or assisted in the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, or having knowledge of a pattern of misconduct across chapters. The Pi Kappa Phi national organization is a defendant in the UH lawsuit for this reason.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a duty to protect students. They can be sued for negligence, particularly if they knew or should have known about a pattern of hazing and failed to act. Sovereign immunity has limits, especially in cases of gross negligence.
5. Housing Corporations & Landlords: Entities that own or control the property where hazing occurred.
6. Third Parties: Bars or alcohol providers under dram shop laws.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX protections and reporting requirements are triggered.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including assaults and liquor law violations, which often accompany hazing.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to increase transparency in hazing reporting and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas

The tragic cases below are not abstract news stories; they are the legal precedents and patterns that shape how we build cases for Gregory families today. They show the deadly scripts that repeat across the country.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: “Big/Little” Nights Turn Deadly

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. He died from alcohol poisoning. The result was a $10 million total settlement ($7M from PIKE national, ~$3M from BGSU) and criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night with excessive drinking, leading to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

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

The Catastrophic Injury Pattern

• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. His family reached multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.
• Texas A&M SAE Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges had industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.

What This Means for Gregory

These cases prove that hazing deaths and catastrophic injuries are foreseeable and preventable. When a fraternity at a Texas school uses the same dangerous “traditions” that have caused death elsewhere, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. This “pattern evidence” is powerful in court.

Texas Campus Focus: Where Gregory Students Go to College

Gregory parents often have students at universities close to home and at major flagship schools across Texas. Hazing is a risk at all of them.

For Gregory Families: The Local & Regional Campus Connection

Gregory is in San Patricio County, part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan area. A primary campus for local students is:

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC)

• Campus Snapshot: A growing university with active student organizations.
• Greek Life & Risk: TAMU-CC has fraternity and sorority life. According to public records, Greek entities operating in the Corpus Christi metro area include organizations like the Alpha Sigma Phi – Iota Phi Chapter (Texas A&M–CC chapter) and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony. These groups are connected to national networks with their own hazing histories.
• Documented Issues: While major public incidents may be less frequent than at larger flagships, the underlying risks—forced drinking, physical hazing, humiliation—exist wherever Greek life and high-commitment organizations operate.
• Legal Context: A hazing case stemming from TAMU-CC could involve the Nueces County legal system. The university, as part of the Texas A&M System, carries the same duties to supervise and protect students.

Major Statewide Universities for Gregory Students

Many Gregory students also attend Texas’s largest universities, where Greek life is deeply ingrained. Our firm is actively litigating and investigating cases at these schools.

University of Houston (UH) – The Active Litigation Frontline
We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This case is a blueprint for institutional hazing liability.

• The Hazing: Bermudez, a fall 2025 pledge, was subjected to the “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced dress codes, overnight driving duties, and extreme physical abuse. On November 3, 2025, he was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• The Injury: He developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passed brown urine, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels, facing permanent kidney damage.
• The Defendants: Our lawsuit names 17 defendants: UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national HQ, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders (president, pledgemaster, etc.).
• The Aftermath: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on Nov. 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• For Gregory Families: This case demonstrates our firm’s active, high-stakes role in Texas hazing litigation. If it can happen at UH, it can happen anywhere.

Texas A&M University – College Station

• Culture & Risk: Home to a massive Greek system and the nationally prominent Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns: As noted, a 2021 lawsuit alleged pledges were doused with cleaner, causing severe burns.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth, seeking over $1 million in damages.
• Legal Pathway: Cases can involve the Brazos County court system and requires attorneys who understand both Greek and Corps cultures.

University of Texas at Austin

• Transparency Tool: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations page, a valuable resource showing patterns.
• Example Incidents: The page lists sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023, forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics) and Texas Wranglers for hazing violations.
• SAE Assault (2024): An exchange student allegedly assaulted at an SAE party suffered a broken nose, fractured tibia, and dislocated leg, filing a lawsuit for over $1 million.

Other Texas Universities with significant Greek life that attract students statewide include Texas Tech University, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Texas State University, and the University of North Texas.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records & Organizational Networks

One of our firm’s critical advantages is the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records that maps the extensive network of Greek organizations across the state. This means we don’t start from zero when investigating your case.

Public Records Directory: Organizations Serving Texas Students

If you are a parent in Gregory, you deserve to know who stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below is a sample of the kind of organizational data we maintain from IRS filings, university rosters, and corporate records. This directory illustrates the complex web of entities that may share liability.

Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations in the Texas Landscape

Sample IRS B83 Registered Entities (Tax-Exempt Greek Organizations):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 133048786 – College Station, TX 77845
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 475370943 – Houston, TX 77204 (Theta Delta Chapter)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 900293166 – College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University Chapter)

Sample Cause IQ Metro Organizations (Corpus Christi Area & Statewide):

• Alpha Sigma Phi – Iota Phi Chapter – Corpus Christi, TX (Texas A&M–CC chapter)
• Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony – Corpus Christi, TX (TAMU–CC colony/chapter)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi Chapter – Kingsville, TX (Texas A&M–Kingsville)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni – Beaumont, TX (Lamar Univ. alumni association)
• Texas Rho Housing Corporation (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) – Austin, TX (UT Austin house corporation)

Cross-Validated National Brands (Found in Both IRS & Metro Data):

• Pi Kappa Alpha
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

This data, encompassing over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, allows us to immediately identify housing corporations, alumni associations, and national links that may carry insurance or liability. When your child is hurt, we already know how to find the organizations behind the letters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages for Gregory Families

Pursuing a hazing claim is a complex fight against well-funded institutions. Our approach is methodical, evidence-based, and draws on our unique strengths.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: The #1 source of evidence. We secure and forensically recover GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and social media DMs that show planning, boasting, threats, and cover-ups.
2. Photos & Videos: Content shared in chats or posted online by members themselves.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between chapter officers and nationals.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations, disciplinary letters, Clery Act reports, and internal investigation files obtained through discovery.
5. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to hazing events. In rhabdomyolysis cases, this includes ER reports, lab results (creatine kinase levels), and nephrology consultations.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Our Strategic Advantages in Your Corner

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants or deep-pocketed national fraternities.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits, allowing us to advise clients on both fronts.
• A Proven Expert Network: We work with medical specialists, digital forensics experts, economists, life-care planners, and Greek life culture experts to build an undeniable case.

Recoverable Damages

In a successful civil case, families may recover compensation for:

• All medical expenses (past and future), including lifelong care for catastrophic injuries.
• Lost earnings and diminished future earning capacity.
• Physical pain and suffering.
• Severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and psychological trauma (PTSD, depression, anxiety).
• In cases of wrongful death: Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of love, companionship, and guidance.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Gregory Parents and Students

A Parent’s Action Plan

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical care immediately. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis or internal trauma can be fatal if untreated.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats and relevant social media. Photograph injuries. Write down a timeline.
3. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
4. Consult a Lawyer Early: Do not wait for the university’s internal process. Evidence disappears, witnesses are coached, and statutes of limitations run.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

• Deleting messages or “cleaning up” online profiles.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them a head start to destroy evidence.
• Signing anything from the university or an insurance adjuster without an attorney’s review.
• Posting detailed accounts on public social media.
• Waiting too long to act, allowing the statute of limitations to expire.

FAQs for Gregory Families

Q: Can we sue if our child “agreed” to participate?
A: Yes. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The power dynamic and coercion inherent in pledging invalidate true consent.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus at a rental house?
A: Location does not shield organizations from liability. Universities and nationals can still be responsible based on their supervision, knowledge, and control over chapter activities.

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 injury. However, complexities can affect this deadline. Do not delay.

Q: Will our case be public?
A: Many cases settle confidentially. We always strive to protect our clients’ privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911?

When hazing injures a student from Gregory, families need more than a general personal injury lawyer. They need a firm with specific expertise in fighting powerful campus institutions and national Greek organizations.

We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists. Our current lead role in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is not just an example—it’s our active, daily work. We understand the medical complexity of injuries like rhabdomyolysis, the digital landscape where evidence lives, and the insurance strategies used to deny claims.

Mr. Lupe Peña’s insider experience as a former insurance defense attorney is a decisive advantage. Ralph Manginello’s background in catastrophic injury litigation and federal court provides the firepower needed for these battles.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For Gregory and San Patricio County residents, we offer compassionate, determined representation tailored to the unique challenges of hazing cases. We investigate thoroughly, fight relentlessly, and prioritize our clients’ recovery and long-term well-being.

Contact Us for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to navigate this crisis alone. We offer a no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review your evidence, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly.

Call Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com