The Definitive Guide to Hazing Laws, Cases & Accountability for City of Goldsmith, Texas Families
If you are a parent in City of Goldsmith, Texas, your deepest fears may involve what happens when your child leaves home for college. The image of a University of Texas Permian Basin student—or a student from Goldsmith who ventured to Texas A&M, the University of Houston, or another Texas campus—being pressured, humiliated, or hurt in the name of “tradition” is a nightmare scenario. It’s not hypothetical. Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter.
This guide is written specifically for you—parents and families in Goldsmith, Ector County, and throughout the Permian Basin region of West Texas. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, detail the Texas laws designed to protect your child, expose the national patterns behind fraternity and sorority misconduct, and show you the legal path to accountability and recovery. If your child has been hurt, you are not alone, and you have powerful rights under Texas law.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN TEXAS
- If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies. Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
- In the first 48 hours: Secure medical care. Preserve all evidence: screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical items. Write down everything they tell you. Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or let your child delete messages.
- Contact us immediately: Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation with our Texas hazing litigation team.
What Hazing Really Looks Like in Texas Today
Hazing is not a relic of the past or harmless horseplay. It is a calculated, often ritualized pattern of abuse that endangers physical and mental health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation. For Texas families, understanding its modern forms is the first step toward recognition and action.
The Core Definition Under Texas Law: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization. This applies on or off campus. Critically, a victim’s “consent” is not a legal defense in Texas.
Modern Hazing Tactics Encountered by Texas Students:
- Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced consumption during “lineups,” “family tree” drinking games, Big/Little nights, or as punishment for incorrect answers. This remains the leading cause of hazing deaths nationwide.
- Physical Abuse & Endurance Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), forced exposure to extreme elements, sleep deprivation, and food/water restriction. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved being forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
- Sexualized & Degrading Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing humiliating costumes or accessories (like the “pledge fanny pack” at UH containing condoms and sex toys), and acts with racist or homophobic overtones.
- Psychological & Digital Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats of expulsion, and 24/7 control via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp). This includes mandatory instant responses, geo-tracking, and forced posting of embarrassing content on social media.
- “Loophole” Tactics: Organizations often disguise hazing as “optional bonding,” “team building,” or “wellness challenges.” They move events to off-campus Airbnbs or private retreats to avoid university oversight. This does not eliminate legal liability.
Hazing extends beyond fraternities and sororities. It occurs in Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit organizations like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and other campus clubs. The common thread is an abuse of power, cloaked in tradition, that puts young people at risk.
Texas Hazing Law & Legal Liability: A Plain-English Guide for Families
Texas has a robust legal framework to address hazing, providing both criminal penalties and civil recourse for victims and their families. Understanding this framework is essential for any Goldsmith family navigating this crisis.
Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing Law):
- Definition (§37.151): As noted above, hazing is defined broadly to include reckless acts that endanger mental or physical health for purposes of initiation.
- Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
- 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.
- It is also a crime for an organization to haze or for an officer to fail to report known hazing.
- Organizational Liability (§37.153): Fraternities, sororities, and other groups can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.
- Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is critical. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
- Good-Faith Reporting Immunity (§37.154): Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability stemming from the report. Many Texas universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911.
Civil Liability: Who Can Be Held Accountable in a Lawsuit?
A civil lawsuit seeks compensation for damages and forces institutional change. Multiple parties can be held liable:
- Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
- The Local Chapter: The fraternity, sorority, or club as an entity.
- The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having knowledge of prior similar incidents at other chapters (a key element we rigorously investigate).
- The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a legal duty to protect students. They can be sued for negligence, gross negligence, or under Title IX if the hazing involves sexual harassment. Their response—or lack thereof—is often central to a case.
- Third Parties: Property owners (of off-campus houses), landlords, and even 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 procedures and potential liability are triggered.
- Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
- Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges to publish more transparent hazing incident reports and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.
National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Predict Tragedy
The hazing incident at UH is not an anomaly. It fits a devastating national pattern. Understanding these landmark cases shows how history repeats and why aggressive legal action is necessary.
Fatal Alcohol Hazing: A Predictable Script
- Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event; died of alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million in total settlements from the national fraternity and university.
- Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Criminal convictions and Louisiana’ “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony.
- Timothy Piazza – Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking; help was fatally delayed. Result: Dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
Violent Physical Hazing
- Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head injuries during a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Result: The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
Catastrophic Injury Hazing
- Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Confidential multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges suffered severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts after substances, including industrial cleaner, were poured on them. Result: Chapter suspension and a lawsuit.
The Takeaway for Goldsmith Families: These cases prove that hazing methods are foreseen, preventable, and create clear legal precedent. When a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi—the same one involved in the UH case—has a history of fatal alcohol hazing (as with Andrew Coffey at FSU), it demonstrates a pattern of knowledge and risk that strengthens a civil case in Texas.
The Texas University Landscape: Where City of Goldsmith Families Send Their Kids
Parents in Goldsmith and Ector County have children attending universities across Texas. Our investigation and litigation experience span all these campuses.
For Goldsmith & West Texas Families: The Local and Regional Picture
The most immediate campus for many Goldsmith families is The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) in Odessa. While Greek life is smaller here, hazing can occur in any organized group, including athletic teams and clubs. Incidents at regional schools like Texas Tech University in Lubbock or West Texas A&M in Canyon also directly impact families in our part of the state.
Major Texas Universities with Significant Greek Life & Hazing Histories
Goldsmith students also attend major universities across Texas. We maintain detailed intelligence on the Greek ecosystems and incident histories at each.
1. University of Houston (UH) – The Active Case in Our Backyard
Our firm currently represents Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. This case is a stark example for all Texas families:
- The Hazing: Forced “pledge fanny pack,” sleep deprivation, overnight driving duties, extreme physical workouts, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced overeating leading to vomiting, and the Nov 3 workout causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
- The Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the Beta Nu chapter on Nov 6, 2025; members voted to surrender their charter on Nov 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary and criminal referrals.
- Our Role: We are holding accountable the full defendant universe: 13 individual members, the UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter, its housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.
2. Texas A&M University – Corps Culture & Greek Life
Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets and large Greek system present specific hazing risks.
- Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A former cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): As mentioned above, a severe physical hazing case resulting in lawsuits.
- For Goldsmith Families: Students from West Texas often join the Corps or fraternities seeking community. The university’s tradition-heavy environment can sometimes enable abuse.
3. University of Texas at Austin – Public Transparency & Repeated Violations
UT Austin publishes a notable online log of hazing violations, showing a pattern of recurring issues.
- Documented Cases: The log includes sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forcing milk consumption and strenuous exercise, and other spirit groups for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): A lawsuit alleges an exchange student was assaulted at an SAE party, suffering a broken nose, fractured tibia, and dislocated leg.
- Key Insight: UT’s public log is a treasure trove for proving a chapter’s or national organization’s prior knowledge—a key element in building a negligence case.
4. Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University
These private, prominent universities have their own Greek life challenges and histories of institutional responses to scandal, which can affect how they handle hazing allegations.
The Organizational Backbone: Public Records on Texas Fraternities & Sororities
One of our firm’s unique advantages is the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from exhaustive public records. This data allows us to identify every potentially liable entity from day one. For Goldsmith families, this means we know the landscape before we even begin your case.
Texas-Registered Greek Organizations (IRS B83 Data):
The IRS maintains records of tax-exempt organizations. Over 125 Texas-registered entities are classified as “Student Sororities, Fraternities” (NTEE Code B83). These include house corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies. This is not a mere list; it’s a map to liability and insurance coverage.
Example Entities Relevant to Texas Universities (Including Those Goldsmith Students Attend):
- Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation, Frisco, TX (EIN 46-2267515)
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, Fort Worth, TX (EIN 74-1380362)
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, Frisco, TX (EIN 46-2267515)
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc, Lufkin, TX (EIN 27-3662583)
- Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, College Station, TX (EIN 90-0293166) – Present at Texas A&M
- Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter, Fort Worth, TX (EIN 91-1981478)
Metro-Level Greek Organization Density (Cause IQ Data):
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 Greek-related organizations.
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 Greek-related organizations.
- Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 Greek-related organizations.
- Lubbock Metro (Relevant for Texas Tech): 59 Greek-related organizations.
Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
When hazing occurs, the immediate chapter is just the visible layer. Behind it are housing corporations that own properties, alumni associations that fund them, and national headquarters that collect dues and set policy. Our intelligence engine allows us to immediately identify and investigate these entities, uncovering insurance policies and assets that can provide compensation for victims. We don’t start from scratch; we start with a comprehensive database.
Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages with Attorney911
Pursuing a hazing case requires a strategic, evidence-driven approach against defendants with significant resources. Here is how we build cases for Texas families.
Critical Evidence We Secure:
- Digital Forensics: Deleted group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord), text messages, social media posts (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok), and email chains. We work with experts to recover what has been erased.
- Chapter & National Records: Internal fraternity/sorority documents, pledge manuals, risk management reports, and correspondence with national headquarters showing prior knowledge.
- University Records: Prior disciplinary files on the involved group, Clery Act reports, Title IX records, and internal administrative communications obtained through discovery or public information requests.
- Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records detailing the physical and psychological injuries, from emergency room reports to long-term therapy notes for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
- Witness Testimony: Statements from other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders who can corroborate the events and culture.
Our Legal Strategy – Overcoming Common Defenses:
We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses used by universities and national organizations:
- Defense: “The Victim Consented.” Our Counter: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states consent is not a defense. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance and peer pressure.
- Defense: “It Was a Rogue Chapter; We Didn’t Know.” Our Counter: We use our data engine and discovery to prove national organizations had “constructive notice” due to identical hazing patterns at other chapters across the country.
- Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus, Not Our Responsibility.” Our Counter: Courts regularly hold universities and nationals liable for off-campus conduct they sponsor, fund, or know about. The Pi Delta Psi conviction proves this.
- Defense: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies.” Our Counter: We prove the policies were window-dressing—poorly enforced, with prior violations met with slaps on the wrist, demonstrating negligent supervision.
Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families:
- Economic Damages: All medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity if disabled, and educational costs (lost tuition, missed semesters).
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.
Practical Guide for Goldsmith Parents & Students
For Parents – Warning Signs & Immediate Steps:
- Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), sudden secrecy about group activities, constant phone monitoring for group chats, declining grades, and requests for unusual amounts of money.
- What to Do Immediately: Prioritize medical care. Help your child preserve all digital evidence (take screenshots, do NOT delete anything). Write down a detailed chronology of what they tell you. Contact an experienced hazing attorney before reporting to the university or speaking to insurance adjusters.
For Students – Your Rights & Safety:
- Is This Hazing? If you feel pressured, coerced, endangered, or humiliated to belong, it likely is. Trust your instincts.
- How to Exit Safely: You have the right to quit. Inform the group in writing (email/text) and notify a trusted university official (Dean of Students) or your parents. Do not attend a “final meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur.
- Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of all relevant communications. Photograph injuries. Save any physical items. Tell medical providers the full story so it’s documented.
- Reporting: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, or anonymously via the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporters.
Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:
- Deleting text messages or group chats.
- Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them time to destroy evidence and coordinate stories.
- Signing any agreement or release from the university without an attorney’s review.
- Posting details about the incident on public social media.
- Waiting too long to consult a lawyer, allowing evidence to vanish and memories to fade.
Why Attorney911 is the Right Choice for Texas Hazing Litigation
When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury firm. You need attorneys with specific expertise in fighting powerful institutions, deep knowledge of Greek life dynamics, and a proven track record in the most complex cases. That is why families across Texas, from Goldsmith to Houston, turn to us.
Our Foundational Advantages in Hazing Cases:
- Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies minimize claims, fight coverage, and drag out cases. We know their playbook because we used to run it. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
- Proven Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by national fraternities, large universities, or their high-paid defense teams. We have the resources and tenacity to see these cases through.
- Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation: Right now, we are leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a current, multi-million-dollar case that demonstrates our active commitment to hazing victims in Texas. This isn’t theoretical; it’s what we do every day.
- Data-Driven Investigation with the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start investigations from zero. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,423 Greek organizations across Texas, built from IRS, university, and public records. This allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable parties.
- 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 clients navigating both systems.
- Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring we can serve Hispanic families across Texas with comfort and clarity.
We approach each case with a commitment to thorough investigation, relentless advocacy, and genuine compassion. Our goal is not just to secure compensation, but to achieve accountability that forces change and prevents future harm.
Call to Action for City of Goldsmith & West Texas Families
If your child has been hazed at UT Permian Basin, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, the University of Houston, UT Austin, or any other Texas campus, the path forward begins with a conversation. You have rights, and time is a critical factor.
Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential consultation. We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.
In your consultation, we will:
- Listen carefully to your story without judgment.
- Review any evidence you have gathered.
- Explain your legal options under Texas and federal law.
- Discuss our investigative strategy and how we would approach your case.
- Answer all your questions about the process, timeline, and costs. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Take the first step toward accountability and recovery.
Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)
Website: https://attorney911.com
Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.
Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.
If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.
The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com
