A Texas Family’s Guide to Hazing Laws, Fraternity Accountability, and Your Legal Rights in Three Rivers

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone

As a parent in Three Rivers, the call you never want to receive is the one where your college student’s voice sounds miles away, heavy with exhaustion, fear, or pain. Perhaps they mention “mandatory” late-night events, or you notice unexplained bruises during a visit home. Maybe they’ve withdrawn from family calls, their grades are slipping, and they’re constantly tethered to a buzzing group chat. In the heart of Live Oak County, where community and family roots run deep, the idea that your child could be systematically abused in the name of “tradition” at a Texas university feels like a betrayal of the future you worked so hard to give them.

Right now, just a few hours north in Houston, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, proving that this isn’t abstract—it’s happening right here in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. His story is a devastating blueprint of modern hazing: forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” subjected to simulated waterboarding with a hose, driven to physical collapse through extreme workouts, and ultimately hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after his urine turned brown. This case, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 coverage, is why we fight.

This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and families of Three Rivers and across Live Oak County. Whether your child attends a local college, has ventured to Texas A&M in College Station, UT in Austin, or any campus in between, you deserve to understand the reality of hazing in 2025, the Texas laws designed to protect students, and the legal pathways to accountability. We’ll demystify the process, show you where to turn, and explain how a Texas-based firm with deep investigative resources can help your family seek justice and prevent this from happening to another child from our community.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Crisis:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• Within the first 48 hours: Secure medical care. Preserve every text, GroupMe message, and photo of injuries. Write down everything your child recalls. Do not delete anything.
• Contact our firm: Evidence disappears quickly. Universities and fraternities move faster. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation to protect your child’s rights from the start.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing is no longer just about clandestine paddling in a dusty basement. For families in Three Rivers, understanding its evolution is critical to recognizing the signs. Modern hazing is a calculated blend of psychological control, digital surveillance, and physical risk, often disguised as “team building” or “tradition.”

The Digital Leash: The most pervasive tool is the smartphone. Pledges are often required to be on 24/7 call via GroupMe or WhatsApp, responding instantly to demands at all hours. Location-sharing apps are used to monitor their whereabouts. Humiliation is digitized through forced TikTok challenges or degrading posts in private social media groups. As we’ve seen in cases, these digital trails become vital evidence.

The “Wellness” Disguise: Extreme physical exertion is framed as “fitness challenges.” The case against UH’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter involved brutal, early-morning workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park that were presented as conditioning but were actually punitive and dangerous, leading to catastrophic kidney injury.

The Coerced “Choice”: Activities are often labeled “voluntary,” creating a legal smoke screen. In reality, not participating means social ostracization, being denied a “Big Brother/Sister,” or threats of expulsion from the pledge class. This power imbalance negates true consent.

Common Hazing Methods Encountered by Texas Students:

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced consumption during “Big/Little” reveals, “family tree” drinking games, or lineups. This remains the leading cause of hazing deaths nationwide.
• Physical & Psychological Hazing: Sleep deprivation, food restriction, prolonged calisthenics (“smokings”), exposure to extreme elements, verbal abuse, and forced humiliation.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and degrading rituals designed to shame and control.
• Servitude Hazing: Acting as on-call drivers, personal servants, or cleaners for older members, significantly interfering with academic and personal life.

For a family in Three Rivers, the warning signs might be subtle: your student is always exhausted, secretive about their phone, withdrawing from longtime friends, or making excuses for unexplained injuries or financial requests. Trust your intuition.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for Three Rivers Families

Texas has clear statutes that govern hazing, and they apply whether the incident occurs on the UT Austin lawn or at an off-campus house in College Station. Understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

The Texas Education Code (Chapter 37, Subchapter F) is the cornerstone. It defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in an organization.

Key Provisions for Live Oak County Families:

1. Hazing is a Crime: It’s typically a Class B misdemeanor, but escalates to a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
2. Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): This is crucial. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law recognizes that peer pressure and power imbalance invalidate true consent. Fraternities cannot hide behind this argument.
3. Organizations Can Be Liable (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
4. Immunity for Good-Faith Reporters (Sec. 37.154): Students who call for help in an emergency are generally protected from university discipline for related alcohol or policy violations. This “Good Samaritan” principle is meant to save lives.

Civil Liability Versus Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish with jail, fines, or probation.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost educational opportunity, and to hold all responsible parties accountable. These are separate paths; you can pursue a civil case even if criminal charges are never filed.

Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Civil Lawsuit?
Our approach is to identify every entity with leverage and insurance. This can include:

• The individual students who planned and executed the hazing.
• The local chapter as an entity.
• The national fraternity/sorority headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters.
• The university (for negligence in supervision or failure to act on prior knowledge).
• Chapter advisors, housing corporations, and property owners.

For a detailed explanation of how statutes of limitations work in Texas, we encourage you to watch our educational video: Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?

Where Three Rivers Families Send Their Kids: The Texas Campus Landscape

Students from Three Rivers and Live Oak County attend a wide range of Texas institutions, from community colleges to flagship universities. Each has its own Greek ecosystem and history with hazing incidents.

Local and Regional Campuses:

• Coastal Bend College (Beeville)
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• University of the Incarnate Word (various campuses)
• Victoria College

Major State University Destinations:
It is common for Three Rivers students to pursue degrees at larger state schools known for strong academic and, often, robust Greek life. This includes:

• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Houston
• Texas State University (San Marcos)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock)

The Greek Ecosystem Surrounding Three Rivers Students:

Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS public filings, university data, and metro records—we maintain a detailed directory of the organizations behind the Greek letters. This isn’t theoretical; it’s the factual backbone we use to build cases.

A Snapshot of Texas-Registered Greek Entities (From IRS B83 Public Filings):

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627. IRS B83 filing.
• Kappa Sigma Fraternity, EIN 756067776, Fort Worth, TX 76109. IRS B83 filing.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710. IRS B83 filing.
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843. IRS B83 filing (Texas A&M University).
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc., EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204. IRS B83 filing.
• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244. IRS B83 & Cause IQ Metro data overlap.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147. IRS B83 & Cause IQ Metro data overlap.

Metro-Level Greek Presence:
The activities of these organizations are not confined to campus. The Corpus Christi metro area, relevant to many South Texas families, shows 21 Greek-related organizations in Cause IQ data. Statewide, our engine tracks over 1,423 fraternities, sororities, and related entities across 25 Texas metros. This scale demonstrates the interconnected system your family may be up against.

National Fraternity Histories: Patterns of Harm That Reach Texas

The fraternity chapter that hazes a student at Texas A&M or UH is rarely an island. It is part of a national organization with a history—a pattern of similar incidents across the country. This “pattern evidence” is legally powerful, showing that the national headquarters knew or should have known about the risks.

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The national organization involved in the Stone Foltz case at Bowling Green State University (2021), where a pledge died from being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. A $10+ million settlement followed. This pattern informs litigation against any Pike chapter.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Faced a $1 million lawsuit at Texas A&M (2021) where pledges alleged being doused in industrial cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. SAE has a national history of alcohol-related hazing deaths.

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The fraternity involved in the Max Gruver case at LSU (2017), a “Bible study” drinking game that led to a pledge’s death and the “Max Gruver Act” in Louisiana.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The national defendant in our active Leonel Bermudez v. UH lawsuit. This same organization was implicated in the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State University (2017).

When a Texas chapter repeats a dangerous ritual that has caused death or injury elsewhere, it demonstrates foreseeability and can establish negligence on the part of the national organization. We use comprehensive databases of these national incidents to build a compelling case for our clients.

Building a Hazing Case: The Attorney911 Investigative Strategy

For families in Three Rivers, navigating a hazing crisis can feel isolating and overwhelming. You’re not just facing a group of students; you’re up against national organizations with deep-pocketed insurers and universities with powerful legal teams. Our approach is built on data, experience, and relentless investigation.

1. The Critical Evidence We Preserve and Pursue:

• Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. We work with experts to obtain these records, which frequently show planning, boasting, and cover-up attempts.
• Social Media & Photo Evidence: Posts, stories, and videos that seem like “fun” to members can be evidence of coercion and abuse.
• Internal Fraternity Records: Through discovery, we subpoena chapter minutes, pledge education materials, risk management reports, and communications with national headquarters.
• University Disciplinary Files: We use public records requests and litigation discovery to obtain prior incident reports involving the same chapter, proving the university had knowledge of a dangerous pattern.
• Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records are vital to prove the direct link between the hazing and injuries like rhabdomyolysis, traumatic brain injury, or PTSD.

2. Our Texas-Based Advantage for Three Rivers Families:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. This insider perspective is invaluable. You can learn more about his background on his profile page.
• 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; we’ve faced them before. His profile details this deep experience.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from zero. We use the database of 1,423+ Texas Greek entities to immediately identify all potentially liable parties—local chapters, housing corporations, alumni groups, and national headquarters.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

3. Understanding Compensation and Damages:
A lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold perpetrators accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

• All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy).
• Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and psychological trauma.
• In cases of wrongful death, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s emotional anguish.

We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to build a comprehensive picture of the harm done, ensuring we pursue full and fair compensation. For more on how we value cases, visit our wrongful death practice page.

Practical Steps for Three Rivers Parents and Students

If You Suspect Hazing Is Happening:

1. Talk with Your Child: Create a non-judgmental space. Use open-ended questions: “Has anything made you uncomfortable during pledging?” “Do you feel safe saying no to the older members?”
2. Look for Evidence: If they show you concerning texts or photos, screenshot them immediately. Encourage them not to delete anything.
3. Prioritize Safety: If there is any immediate danger or serious injury, call 911.

If Hazing Has Occurred and Your Child Is Injured:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Go to the ER or a doctor. Be clear the injuries are from hazing. This creates a critical medical record.
2. Preserve ALL Evidence: This is the most important step. Save all clothing, take photos of injuries, and back up all digital communications. Our video on using your cellphone to document a legal case offers practical guidance.
3. Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Contact an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to the university, the organization will circle the wagons. Having legal counsel guide the reporting process protects your child’s rights and the integrity of the evidence.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes: Do not confront the fraternity directly. Do not sign any documents from the university or an insurance adjuster. Do not allow your child to post about the incident on social media. We detail these pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

Why Choose Attorney911? Texas Hazing Litigation for Three Rivers Families

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the specific battlefield of campus hazing litigation. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Three Rivers and Live Oak County.

We are currently in the fight. Our leadership in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is not just a credential; it’s proof of our active, serious commitment to taking on powerful universities and national fraternities. We know the playbook because we are writing it.

Our promise to you is straightforward: We will listen to your story with compassion. We will investigate with the depth and resources this complex fight demands. We will identify every responsible party, from the pledge master to the national insurance carrier. And we will fight relentlessly to secure accountability and compensation that supports your child’s recovery and your family’s future.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. For a clear explanation, watch our video: How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

• Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
• Email us directly: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides full legal services in Spanish.

We will listen, answer your questions, explain your legal options, and help you make the best decision for your family’s healing and future. Let us bring our Texas-sized resources and determination to your fight for justice.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and circumstances. An attorney-client relationship is not created by reading this article. For legal advice regarding a specific hazing incident, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC directly for a consultation.