Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Orange Grove Families

Texas Hazing Law & Fraternity Accountability for Families in Orange Grove, Alice, and Jim Wells County

If you’re a parent in Orange Grove, Alice, or anywhere in Jim Wells County, and your child is preparing for or already attending college in Texas, this guide is written specifically for you. The nightmare scenario we’re about to describe could happen to any Texas family, including yours.

It’s a Friday night at an off-campus fraternity house near a major Texas university. Your child, excited about college and eager to belong, is participating in what older members call “pledge education.” What starts as seemingly harmless tradition quickly escalates: forced drinking games where wrong answers mean chugging entire bottles, humiliating physical challenges pushed far beyond reasonable limits, and social media capture of every degrading moment. Your child feels trapped—wanting to fit in but increasingly concerned about safety. When someone collapses or shows signs of serious distress, the instinct to call for help conflicts with fear of “getting the chapter in trouble.” This dangerous hesitation can have devastating consequences.

Right now, in Texas, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries during his Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledging. The details are harrowing: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; extreme physical workouts including 100+ push-ups and 500 squats; and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. The result? Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring four days of hospitalization with ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This case isn’t just a Houston problem—it’s a Texas problem that affects families in Orange Grove, Alice, and throughout Jim Wells County. Whether your child attends a local South Texas university, commutes to Corpus Christi, or has ventured to major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or Texas Tech, the risks are real, and the legal landscape is complex.

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)
• We provide immediate help – that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)

Do NOT:

• Confront the fraternity/sorority
• Sign anything from the university or insurance company
• Post details on public social media
• Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• Universities move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

For Orange Grove families who may be unfamiliar with modern campus life, understanding hazing requires moving beyond old stereotypes. Hazing today is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

Main Categories of Modern Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and dangerous form, accounting for the majority of hazing deaths nationwide. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” chugging challenges, drinking games where wrong answers mean rapid consumption, and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of specific foods and liquids until vomiting.

Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, this now includes extreme calisthenics or “workouts” far beyond normal conditioning (like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in the UH case), sleep deprivation through mandatory late-night sessions, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme cold/heat or dangerous environments.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This category includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or positions, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case containing condoms and sex toys falls into this category.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming either in meetings or increasingly through digital means.

Digital/Online Hazing
A rapidly evolving category that includes group chat dares and “challenges,” public humiliation via Instagram stories, Snapchat, TikTok, or Discord, and pressure to create or share compromising images/videos. Orange Grove parents should understand that today’s hazing often leaves a digital trail in GroupMe, WhatsApp, or dedicated fraternity apps.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities receive the most attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC Divine Nine, multicultural groups)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / military-style groups (particularly relevant at Texas A&M)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs (like Texas Cowboys at UT Austin)
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

Social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal. For Orange Grove families sending children to universities with strong traditions, understanding this broader context is essential.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas + Federal

Understanding the legal environment is crucial for Orange Grove families considering their options. Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions that apply whether your child attends school in Corpus Christi, College Station, or Austin.

Texas Hazing Law Basics

Under Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F, which governs all hazing cases in our state, hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

In plain English: If someone makes your child do something dangerous, harmful, or degrading to join or stay in a group, and they meant to do it or were reckless about the risk, that’s hazing under Texas law.

Key Texas Provisions:

• Criminal Penalties:

  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
  • Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury requiring medical treatment
  • State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

• Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be criminally prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew about it and failed to report.

• § 37.155 Critical Protection: Consent is NOT a defense in Texas. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still hazing if it meets the legal definition.

• Good-Faith Reporting Immunity: Persons who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result.

Criminal vs Civil Cases

Criminal Cases
Brought by the state (prosecutor) with aims of punishment (jail, fines, probation). Typical hazing-related charges include hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or even manslaughter in fatal cases.

Civil Cases
Brought by victims or surviving families for monetary compensation and accountability. These focus on negligence/gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent hiring/supervision, premises liability, and emotional distress.

Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many families in Texas pursue civil cases even when criminal charges are not filed or are resolved differently.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026).

• Title IX / Clery: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Clery requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics that often overlap with hazing incidents.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up.

Local Chapter / Organization: The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated).

National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Their liability often hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents elsewhere.

University or Governing Board: Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories, with key questions around prior warnings, policy enforcement, and deliberate indifference.

Third Parties: Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces, bars/alcohol providers (under dram shop theories), security companies, or event organizers.

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys know how to identify all potentially liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What They Mean for Texas Families

Major national cases have shaped the legal landscape and provide crucial precedents for Texas families. These patterns show how courts, juries, and legislators respond to hazing tragedies.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking, severe falls captured on chapter cameras, hours delayed before medical help. Resulted in dozens of criminal charges, civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway: Delay in calling 911 and culture of silence have devastating legal consequences.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Big/little event where pledge was given a handle of liquor, drank to dangerous levels, and died. Criminal hazing charges followed, and FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life. Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights are repeating scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
“Bible study” drinking game where pledges drank when answering questions incorrectly. Death led to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute (Max Gruver Act). Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof of hazing.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Pledge night with forced consumption of nearly a bottle of whiskey. Multiple criminal convictions, $10 million total settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Pledge subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat, suffered fatal head injuries with delayed help. Multiple members convicted, fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway: Off-campus retreats can be as dangerous as parties, and national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits against university and staff, head coach fired and settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to major athletic programs with systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for Orange Grove Families

Common threads in these cases—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups—appear repeatedly in Texas incidents. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Orange Grove families facing hazing at Texas schools are not alone and operate in a landscape shaped by these national lessons.

Texas Focus: Where Orange Grove Families Send Their Kids

Orange Grove families typically send students to a mix of local South Texas institutions and major state universities. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is essential.

Texas A&M University System Institutions

For many Orange Grove and Jim Wells County families, Texas A&M University campuses represent natural choices. The main campus in College Station is approximately 150 miles from Orange Grove, a manageable distance for many Texas families.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

Campus Culture: Strong Corps of Cadets tradition, active Greek life with approximately 60+ fraternity and sorority chapters, and deeply ingrained traditions that sometimes blur lines between “team building” and hazing.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Two pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years, and plaintiffs sought $1 million in damages.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. Sought over $1 million; A&M stated it handled the matter internally.
• Texas A&M Hazing Transparency: The university maintains some public records of organizational conduct violations, though less comprehensive than UT Austin’s public database.

How Cases Proceed: Brazos County courts typically handle cases, with potential involvement of Texas A&M University Police Department and College Station PD. Civil suits often name individual students, the local chapter, national fraternity, and sometimes the university depending on facts.

What Orange Grove Families Should Know: The Corps of Cadets represents both a unique tradition and potential risk environment. Texas A&M’s Greek life is extensive, with particular concentrations in certain high-risk national organizations with documented hazing histories.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Located just 45 miles from Orange Grove, TAMU-CC represents a convenient option for many local families.

Greek Life Scope: Smaller Greek community than main campus but includes several national fraternities and sororities with chapters at multiple Texas schools.

Documented Issues: While less publicized than larger campuses, TAMU-CC has faced hazing incidents, particularly in recent years as Greek life has expanded. The university’s proximity to Orange Grove means many incidents directly affect Jim Wells County families.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Just 35 miles from Orange Grove, TAMUK serves many Jim Wells County students directly.

Documented Organizations: The campus hosts chapters of several national fraternities and sororities with known hazing histories, including some involved in incidents at other Texas campuses.

Geographic Consideration: For Orange Grove families, TAMUK’s close proximity means students often live at home while attending, potentially affecting how hazing incidents are discovered and addressed by families.

University of Texas System Institutions

University of Texas at Austin

While farther from Orange Grove (approximately 180 miles), UT Austin attracts students from across Texas, including Jim Wells County.

Transparency Leader: UT maintains one of Texas’s most comprehensive public Hazing Violations pages, listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions.

Documented Incidents:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers and Spirit Groups: Multiple sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, or punishment-based practices.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Incident (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault by fraternity members resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose; sued for over $1 million.

How Cases Proceed: Travis County courts, with potential involvement of UTPD and Austin PD. UT’s public violation log provides powerful evidence for civil suits by showing organizational patterns and institutional knowledge.

Texas Tech University

Approximately 370 miles from Orange Grove in Lubbock, Texas Tech serves many South Texas students seeking a traditional “away from home” college experience.

Greek Life Scale: Significant Greek community with chapters of most major national fraternities and sororities.

Documented Issues: Like other large Texas universities, Texas Tech has faced hazing incidents across multiple organizations. The distance from Orange Grove can complicate family response when incidents occur.

Private Universities

Baylor University (Waco)

Located approximately 250 miles from Orange Grove, Baylor’s religious identity and recent history of institutional scrutiny (Title IX football scandal) create a complex environment for hazing accountability.

Documented Incidents:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation; staggered suspensions over early season.
• Greek Life Context: Baylor’s Greek system, while smaller than public universities, includes chapters of national organizations with documented hazing histories elsewhere.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Orange Grove Families

If you’re a parent in Orange Grove, Alice, or Jim Wells County, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. At Attorney911, we maintain an unmatched Texas Greek-life data engine compiled from IRS filings, university records, and metro organizational data. Below is a sampling of the public records we track—organizations that may hold insurance and responsibility for hazing incidents affecting Texas students.

Texas-Registered Greek Organizations (IRS B83 Filings):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc | EIN: 133048786 | 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845-6681
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc | EIN: 161675890 | 115 Wild Wick Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382-1822
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc | EIN: 201237505 | 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210-4202
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity | EIN: 237279532 | PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446-2142
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc | EIN: 475370943 | 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204-7005
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity | EIN: 746064445 | 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627-8843
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter | EIN: 746084905 | 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-3067
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity | EIN: 900927378 | 13211 Lost Lake Dr, San Antonio, TX 78249-3625
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 462267515 | 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035-6629

Corpus Christi Metro Area Greek Organizations (Cause IQ Data):

• Alpha Sigma Phi – Iota Phi Chapter | Corpus Christi, TX (Texas A&M–Corpus Christi chapter)
• Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony | Corpus Christi, TX (TAMU–CC colony/chapter)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae | Corpus Christi, TX (Graduate chapter, founded 1952)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi (TAMUK) | Kingsville, TX (Texas A&M–Kingsville chapter)

Texas-Wide Snapshot:
Our database tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 188 in the Houston metro, 154 in Austin-Round Rock, 86 in San Antonio, 59 in Lubbock, 42 in College Station-Bryan, 27 in Waco, 22 in Beaumont-Port Arthur, and 21 in the Corpus Christi metro area that serves Orange Grove families.

We maintain this directory so families never start from zero. When hazing occurs, we already know the names, EINs, and mailing addresses of the organizations that may hold insurance and responsibility.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific + National Histories

Why do national histories matter for Orange Grove families? Many fraternities/sororities on Texas campuses (Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, etc.) are part of national organizations with documented hazing patterns across multiple states.

Organization Hazing Histories Relevant to Texas Students

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

• National Pattern: Multiple alcohol-related deaths including Stone Foltz (BGSU 2021, $10M settlement) and David Bogenberger (NIU 2012, $14M settlement).
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Texas Tech, Baylor, and other Texas schools.
• Legal Significance: When a Texas chapter repeats the Big/Little drinking script that caused deaths elsewhere, that shows foreseeability and supports negligence claims against the national organization.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

• National Pattern: Multiple hazing-related deaths and severe injuries nationwide; eliminated traditional pledge process in 2014 due to pattern.
• Texas Incidents:
  • Texas A&M (2021): Chemical burns case with skin grafts
  • UT Austin (2024): Assault causing multiple fractures
  • Traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama
• Texas Presence: Chapters at most major Texas universities.

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• National Pattern: Max Gruver death at LSU (2017) leading to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act.
• Texas Presence: Active chapters across Texas campuses.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• National Pattern: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State (2017).
• Texas Current Case: Leonel Bermudez lawsuit at University of Houston – our firm’s active $10M case involving rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Texas Presence: Multiple chapters including the now-closed Beta Nu chapter at UH.

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ)

• National & Texas Pattern: Hazing suspensions including SMU chapter (2017) for paddling, forced drinking, sleep deprivation.
• Texas Presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, UT, Texas Tech, Baylor.

Why National Patterns Matter in Civil Litigation

When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused injuries or deaths at other chapters, courts consider whether national organizations:

• Had prior notice of dangerous practices
• Meaningfully enforced anti-hazing policies
• Responded aggressively enough to prior incidents
• Failed to implement adequate supervision and training

This pattern evidence affects:

• Settlement leverage during negotiations
• Insurance coverage disputes (insurers may argue exclusions)
• Punitive damages potential (depending on jurisdiction and claims)
• Institutional accountability beyond individual members

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, Strategy

For Orange Grove families navigating a hazing crisis, understanding what makes a strong case is essential. At Attorney911, we approach hazing cases with the same thoroughness we apply to complex wrongful death and catastrophic injury litigation.

Critical Evidence Collection

Digital Communications (Most Critical Category)

• Group Messaging: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, fraternity-specific apps
• Social Media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok messages (screenshot before deletion)
• Recovery Capability: Digital forensics can often recover deleted messages—don’t assume deletion means lost evidence

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed by members during events
• Footage shared in group chats or posted socially
• Security camera or doorbell footage at houses/venues

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, ritual “traditions” lists
• Emails/texts from officers about “what we’ll do to pledges”
• National policies and training materials

University Records

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension records
• Incident reports to campus police or conduct offices
• Clery reports and similar disclosures

Medical & Psychological Records

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Surgery and rehabilitation notes
• Toxicology reports (blood alcohol, drug levels)
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses)

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges, members, roommates, RAs
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Coaches, trainers, bystanders

We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does. Our experience recovering trucking ELD data, maritime logs, and industrial accident records translates directly to obtaining hidden fraternity communications and university files.

Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Medical Bills: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, ongoing treatment, future medical needs
• Lost Income/Earning Capacity: Missed semesters, delayed workforce entry, reduced earning potential for permanent injuries
• Educational Impact: Lost tuition, forfeited scholarships, transfer costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and treatment
• Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life
• Reputational Harm: Social stigma, difficulty transferring schools

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families)

• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of financial support and companionship
• Emotional suffering of family members
• Parents’/siblings’ mental health treatment

Punitive Damages (When Available)
Designed to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct and deter future hazing. Available when defendants had prior warnings, engaged in particularly cruel conduct, attempted cover-ups, or showed callous indifference to known risks.

Insurance Coverage Strategies

National fraternities and universities have insurance policies that often become central to cases. Insurers frequently argue:

• Hazing constitutes “intentional acts” excluded from coverage
• Policies don’t cover certain defendants or locations
• Coverage limits are insufficient

Our insurance insider advantage is critical here. Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers:

• Value (and undervalue) claims
• Use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to reduce settlements
• Employ delay tactics to pressure plaintiffs
• Fight coverage under exclusions

We identify all potential policies: individual member homeowner’s policies, chapter policies, national policies, university umbrella coverage. We navigate exclusions, force insurers to defend, and pursue bad faith claims when insurers wrongfully deny coverage.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Orange Grove Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed

Physical Signs: Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries; extreme fatigue beyond normal stress; weight changes; sleep deprivation; injuries to hands/back/legs; chemical burns or rashes; signs of alcohol poisoning.

Behavioral & Emotional Changes: Sudden secrecy about organization activities; withdrawal from family/non-member friends; personality changes (anxiety, depression, irritability); defensive when asked; fear of “letting the chapter down”; obsession with pleasing older members; talking about “just getting through this.”

Academic Red Flags: Grades dropping suddenly; missing classes; skipping assignments for “mandatory” events; losing scholarships.

Digital/Social Behavior: Constant phone use for group chat monitoring; anxiety when phone buzzes; deleting messages obsessively; receiving calls/texts at all hours; social media posts showing concerning activities; location tracking apps newly installed.

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally)

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
2. “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
3. “What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
4. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
5. “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
6. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to?”
7. “Are they asking you to keep secrets from me or the university?”

48-Hour Action Checklist for Parents

Hour 1-6 (Immediate Crisis):

• Get medical attention if injured/intoxicated
• Remove child from dangerous situation
• Screenshot messages shown; photograph injuries
• Write down everything they tell you (date, time, details)
• Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911

Hour 6-24 (Evidence Preservation):

• Help child preserve ALL digital communications (don’t delete anything)
• Secure physical evidence (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Request medical records
• Document witness names/contact info
• Note university communications but don’t respond yet

Hour 24-48 (Strategic Decisions):

• Consult experienced hazing attorney
• Decide on reporting strategy (with lawyer’s guidance)
• If school contacts you, refer them to your attorney
• Do NOT talk to insurance adjusters without lawyer
• Backup all evidence to cloud storage

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide
Ask yourself: Am I being forced/pressured? Would I do this with real choice? Is it dangerous/degrading/illegal? Would parents/university approve if they knew? Are older members making new members do things they don’t do? Am I being told to keep secrets?

If yes to any, it’s likely hazing. Your “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t true voluntary consent under Texas law.

How to Exit Safely

• Immediate Danger: Call 911 or campus police
• Want to Quit: Tell someone outside the org first, send written resignation (email/text), do NOT go to “one last meeting”
• Fear Retaliation: Document threats/harassment, report to Dean of Students and campus police, seek protective order if needed

Evidence Collection While It’s Happening

1. Screenshots: Capture full group chats with timestamps
2. Recordings: Texas is one-party consent—you can record conversations you’re part of
3. Photos/Videos: Injuries (multiple angles), locations, objects used
4. Medical Documentation: Tell providers you were hazed for accurate records
5. Witness Info: Names/contacts of others who saw what happened

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

MISTAKES THAT CAN RUIN YOUR HAZING CASE:

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages or “Clean Up” Evidence
   What parents think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
   Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up; can be obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible
   What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly
   What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
   Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
   What to do instead: Document everything, call a lawyer before any confrontation

3. Signing University “Release” or “Resolution” Forms
   What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or internal agreements
   Why it’s wrong: You may waive right to sue; settlements often below case value
   What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting Details on Social Media Before Talking to a Lawyer
   What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
   Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
   What to do instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

5. Letting Your Child Go Back to “One Last Meeting”
   What fraternities say: “Come talk to us before you do anything drastic”
   Why it’s wrong: They pressure, intimidate, extract harmful statements
   What to do instead: Once considering legal action, all communication through your lawyer

6. Waiting “To See How the University Handles It”
   What universities promise: “We’re investigating; let us handle this internally”
   Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
   What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

7. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Without a Lawyer
   What adjusters say: “We just need your statement to process the claim”
   Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements used against you; early settlements are lowball
   What to do instead: Politely decline: “My attorney will contact you”

Short FAQ for Orange Grove Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (Texas A&M, UT, etc.) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals personally. Private universities (Baylor, SMU) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default but becomes a state jail felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. In cases with cover-ups or fraud, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“What if hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus with successful litigation.

“Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Serving Orange Grove & All Texas Families

When your family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Orange Grove, Alice, Jim Wells County, and surrounding South Texas communities. We understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families across our region, whether your child attends Texas A&M-Kingsville just 35 miles away or has ventured to campuses in College Station, Austin, or beyond.

Our Unique Qualifications for Texas Hazing Cases

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña)
Mr. Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to reduce settlements
• Deploy delay tactics to pressure plaintiffs
• Fight coverage under exclusions
  “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello)

• One of few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• Not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams
• “We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We know how to fight powerful defendants.”

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience

• Proven track record in complex wrongful death cases
• Economists collaboration for lifetime care valuation (brain injury, disability cases)
• “We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability.”

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise

• Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
• Understands how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation
• Can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure

Investigative Depth

• Network of experts: medical, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence (group chats, chapter records, university files)
• “We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.”

Current Active Hazing Litigation
Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case—a $10 million lawsuit involving rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, and institutional accountability. We’re not just talking about hazing law; we’re actively litigating one of Texas’s most serious current cases.

How Fraternity, Sorority, Corps & Athletic Hazing Actually Works

We understand the behind-closed-doors reality:

• The psychology of coercion and group dynamics
• How traditions become dangerous rituals
• The digital footprint of modern hazing
• The institutional cover-up patterns
• The insurance strategies used to minimize payouts

What Makes Hazing Cases Different

• Powerful institutional defendants with unlimited legal budgets
• Complex insurance coverage battles
• Balancing victim privacy with public accountability
• Navigating both criminal and civil tracks simultaneously
• Uncovering pattern evidence across multiple chapters/states

Call to Action for Orange Grove Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—from Texas A&M-Kingsville to UT Austin, from local South Texas universities to major state schools—we want to hear from you. Families in Orange Grove, Alice, Jim Wells County, and throughout the region have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We’ll listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com

Spanish-language services:

• Hablamos Español—Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
• Servicios legales en español disponibles

Whether you’re in Orange Grove or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions behind these incidents have powerful lawyers and deep pockets. You need equally experienced, determined advocates who know how to win.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Immediate help is our promise. That’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit

1. Click2Houston (KPRC 2) — “‘Urine was brown’: Pledge sues over severe hazing at University of Houston’s shut down Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”

• Published: November 21, 2025 | Authors: Bryce Newberry & Holly Galvan Posey
• URL: 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/

1. ABC13 Eyewitness News (KTRK) — “Waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment: Lawsuit alleges abuse faced by injured pledge at UH’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”

• Published: November 22, 2025 | Author: Nick Natario
• URL: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

1. Hoodline — “University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Face $10M Lawsuit Over Alleged Hazing and Abuse”

• Published: November 22, 2025 | Author: Alyssa Ford
• URL: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos

1. “📱 Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case? | Attorney911 Explains”

• Content: How to properly use smartphones to document evidence after injury or hazing
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

1. “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case? | Attorney911 with Injury Lawyer Ralph Manginello”

• Content: Texas statutes of limitations for personal injury cases
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

1. “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case | Attorney911 with Ralph Manginello”

• Content: Common mistakes that damage personal injury claims
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

1. “📢 How Do Contingency Fees Work? Injury Lawyer Explains!”

• Content: Contingency fee model explained—no upfront costs
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website

1. Attorney911 — Main Website & Contact

• Content: Full-service Texas personal injury and criminal defense law firm
• URL: 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 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 (10)