Hazing at Texas Universities: A Complete Legal Guide for Oyster Creek Families

We watch a University of Houston student from Oyster Creek accept a bid to a fraternity, filled with hope for friendship and belonging. Weeks later, his mother finds him crawling up the stairs of their Brazoria County home, unable to stand, his urine brown from muscle breakdown. A “pledge fanny pack” containing humiliating items, forced eating until vomiting, sprints, bear crawls, and being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding” at an off-campus house have left him with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, hospitalized for four days. This isn’t a hypothetical. This is the reality for Leonel Bermudez and his family, represented by our firm in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders.

For families in Oyster Creek and across Brazoria County, this case happening just up the road in Harris County is a stark warning. Hazing isn’t just “bad behavior” from decades past. It’s a present danger with sophisticated cover-ups, digital coercion, and catastrophic injuries happening right now at Texas campuses where your children study. This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Oyster Creek parents and students to understand what hazing really looks like in 2025, the Texas legal framework that protects victims, and what options your family has if the unthinkable happens at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any Texas school.

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

When Oyster Creek parents think of hazing, they often imagine outdated stereotypes: simple pranks or roughhousing. The reality in 2025 involves sophisticated psychological manipulation, digital control, and intentional evasion of university oversight. 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 make it safe or legal when there exists the power imbalance inherent in pledge-master relationships.

The Five Modern Categories of Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights, “lineup” drinking games, or challenges like the “Bible study” game that killed Max Gruver at LSU. At Texas A&M, Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges were allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

Physical Hazing
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme calisthenics designed to cause harm. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case included “save-your-brother” drills, 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, and cold-weather exposure in underwear. At Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, a cadet alleged being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. These are not workouts—they’re torture disguised as tradition.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case contained condoms and a sex toy as part of daily humiliation. Northwestern University’s football program faced allegations of sexualized hazing that led to multiple lawsuits and the head coach’s firing.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, and manipulation create lasting trauma. Pledges are often cut off from non-member friends, required to seek permission for basic activities, and subjected to “grilling” sessions designed to break down their self-worth.

Digital/Online Hazing
This is the newest frontier. Pledges face constant demands through GroupMe, WhatsApp, or Discord—required to respond instantly at all hours. They may be forced to post embarrassing content on social media, participate in TikTok “challenges,” or share live location data. This 24/7 control extends the abuse beyond physical events into every moment of a student’s life.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

While fraternities and sororities receive most attention, hazing permeates many campus organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other military-style programs
• Spirit Squads and Tradition Clubs like Texas Cowboys at UT
• Athletic Teams from football to cheerleading
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Organizations

For Oyster Creek families with children at any Texas campus, understanding that danger can exist outside Greek letters is crucial.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas & Federal

For Brazoria County families, Texas law provides specific protections and pathways for accountability. Understanding this framework is the first step toward justice.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health and occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership. Key provisions Oyster Creek families should know:

Criminal Penalties (§37.152):

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death
• Additional charges: Failure to report hazing, retaliation against reporters

Organizational Liability (§37.153):
Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report it.

Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155):
Texas law explicitly states that victim “consent” does not excuse hazing—a critical protection given the power dynamics in pledge relationships.

Good-Faith Reporting Immunity (§37.154):
Those who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: What Oyster Creek Families Need to Know

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (Harris County, Brazoria County, or campus prosecutors)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Example: In the Pi Delta Psi case that killed Chun “Michael” Deng, multiple members were convicted and the national fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Critical: A criminal conviction is not required to pursue civil action

These cases can proceed simultaneously. Our firm’s dual expertise—Ralph Manginello’s HCCLA criminal defense background and our civil litigation experience—means we can navigate both tracks when necessary.

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

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026). This will increase visibility of patterns at Texas schools.

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger requiring specific university responses and potentially waiving sovereign immunity for public schools.

Clery Act:
Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with reportable assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the Stone Foltz case, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.

Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated). The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation is named in the Bermudez lawsuit.

National Fraternity/Sorority:
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents creates “foreseeability” central to negligence claims.

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

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

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys investigate all potential avenues for accountability.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The tragedies that have made national headlines are not anomalies—they’re patterns. Understanding these patterns helps Oyster Creek families recognize that what happened to their child is part of a systemic failure, not an isolated incident.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking led to fatal falls captured on chapter cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
A “Big Brother Night” where pledges were given handles of liquor led to fatal alcohol poisoning. The case caused FSU to temporarily suspend all Greek life.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking resulted in a 0.495% BAC and death. Louisiana enacted the Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
A pledge forced to drink a bottle of whiskey died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU).

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
A blindfolded, weighted-down pledge was repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat, suffering fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a landmark for organizational criminal liability.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the program. Multiple lawsuits led to head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing and a confidential settlement of his wrongful-termination suit.

What These Cases Mean for Oyster Creek Families

The common threads—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups—repeat across states and organizations. The multi-million-dollar settlements and legislative reforms show that accountability is possible. When your child is hazed at a Texas school, you’re not facing a unique problem but a predictable pattern that courts and juries increasingly recognize.

Texas University Focus: Where Oyster Creek Students Attend

Oyster Creek families send their children to universities across Texas. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at the five major schools most relevant to our community.

University of Houston (UH) – Closest Major Campus to Oyster Creek

For many Brazoria County families, UH is the most accessible major university. Its urban Houston campus hosts active Greek life where the Leonel Bermudez tragedy unfolded.

Campus & Cultural Snapshot:

• Large urban campus with commuter and residential mix
• Active Greek life with 50+ fraternity and sorority chapters
• Location in Harris County means jurisdiction may involve HPD or UHPD

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
UH prohibits hazing on and off campus, specifically banning forced consumption, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and mental distress as initiation. Reporting channels exist through the Dean of Students and campus police.

Documented Incidents & Responses:
The ongoing Bermudez case represents the most severe recent incident. According to the Click2Houston report, allegations include the “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced overeating until vomiting, extreme workouts causing rhabdomyolysis, and hose spraying “similar to waterboarding.” Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds:
Given UH’s Harris County location, cases may involve UHPD, Houston Police Department, or Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Civil suits typically file in Harris County district courts. The university’s status as part of the public UH System means sovereign immunity considerations apply, though exceptions exist for gross negligence.

What Oyster Creek UH Families Should Do:

• Report to both UHPD (713-743-3333) and UH Dean of Students
• Document everything—Harris County courts require strong evidence
• Understand that UH’s urban setting means multiple police jurisdictions may be involved
• Contact an attorney familiar with Houston-area hazing litigation immediately

Texas A&M University – Major Destination for Brazoria County Students

Many Oyster Creek students choose Texas A&M for its strong programs and traditions. The Corps of Cadets and Greek life both have documented hazing issues.

Campus & Cultural Snapshot:

• Tradition-heavy environment in College Station
• Prominent Corps of Cadets with military-style discipline
• Active Greek life with historical hazing issues

Documented Incidents & Responses:
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Pledges allegedly suffered severe chemical burns from industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years.
Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
University Response: Texas A&M states it addresses hazing through Student Conduct and Corps regulations, but civil cases continue to reveal systemic issues.

What Oyster Creek A&M Families Should Know:

• The Corps’ unique culture requires specialized legal understanding
• Brazoria County to College Station proximity means local medical care may be needed
• A&M’s public status affects sovereign immunity arguments
• Evidence preservation is critical given A&M’s tight-knit community

University of Texas at Austin – Flagship Campus with Transparency

UT Austin’s public hazing violations page provides unusual transparency that can benefit families seeking accountability.

Campus & Cultural Snapshot:

• Flagship Austin campus with 60+ Greek chapters
• Public hazing violations database at hazing.utexas.edu
• Active spirit organizations and academic clubs

Documented Incidents from Public Records:
Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation.
Texas Wranglers & Other Spirit Groups: Multiple sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted at party, suffering dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose; lawsuit seeks over $1 million.

Transparency Advantage:
UT’s public database lets families check if an organization has prior violations—valuable evidence showing patterns and institutional knowledge.

What Oyster Creek UT Families Should Do:

• Check hazing.utexas.edu for organization history
• Report to UTPD and Dean of Students simultaneously
• Use Austin’s medical resources for documentation
• Understand Travis County court procedures may differ from Brazoria County

Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Private University Considerations

SMU’s private status in Dallas creates different legal dynamics for hazing cases.

Campus & Cultural Snapshot:

• Private, affluent university in Dallas
• Strong Greek presence with historical hazing issues
• Different reporting and transparency expectations than public schools

Documented Incidents:
Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended until approximately 2021.
University Response: SMU utilizes anonymous reporting systems like Real Response but maintains less public transparency than UT.

Legal Distinctions:
As a private university, SMU has fewer sovereign immunity protections but may argue contractual limitations through enrollment agreements.

What Oyster Creek SMU Families Should Consider:

• Private university policies may limit public information access
• Dallas County jurisdiction applies for legal actions
• SMU’s wealth means potentially deeper insurance coverage
• Different disciplinary processes than public institutions

Baylor University – Religious Institution Dynamics

Baylor’s religious identity and past scandals create unique context for hazing cases.

Campus & Cultural Snapshot:

• Private Christian university in Waco
• History of scrutiny over football and Title IX issues
• Greek life and athletic team hazing incidents

Documented Incidents:
Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation.
University Response: Baylor emphasizes “zero tolerance” but has faced criticism over handling of prior misconduct cases.

Special Considerations:
Baylor’s religious branding may affect jury perceptions, and past settlements may influence current case strategies.

What Oyster Creek Baylor Families Need to Know:

• McLennan County courts handle cases
• Baylor’s past scandals may provide settlement leverage
• Religious context requires careful navigation in litigation
• Waco’s smaller legal community affects case dynamics

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific & National Histories

The organizations operating at Texas universities have national histories that matter for your case. When a Texas chapter repeats patterns seen in other states, it shows foreseeability—a key element in negligence claims.

Why National Histories Matter

National fraternity and sorority headquarters maintain elaborate anti-hazing policies precisely because they’ve seen deaths and catastrophic injuries. Their knowledge of patterns—forced drinking nights, paddling traditions, humiliating rituals—creates legal duty. When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got another chapter shut down in Ohio or Louisiana, that demonstrates the national organization knew or should have known the risks.

Organization Mapping: National Patterns at Texas Schools

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike):

• National History: Stone Foltz death (BGSU, $10M settlement), David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement)
• Texas Presence: UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor chapters
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing events with forced consumption

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE):

• National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide; eliminated traditional pledge process in 2014 after pattern of fatalities
• Texas Presence: UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU chapters
• Texas Incidents: Chemical burns at Texas A&M, assault lawsuit at UT Austin
• Pattern: Physical abuse combined with substance hazing

Pi Kappa Phi:

• National History: Andrew Coffey death (FSU)
• Texas Presence: UH (Beta Nu chapter now closed), Texas A&M
• Current Case: Leonel Bermudez lawsuit alleging forced eating, extreme workouts, simulated waterboarding
• Pattern: Physical endurance hazing with humiliation elements

Phi Delta Theta:

• National History: Max Gruver death (LSU) leading to Louisiana felony hazing law
• Texas Presence: UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin chapters
• Pattern: Drinking games disguised as “education” or “study”

Kappa Alpha Order:

• National History: Multiple hazing suspensions nationwide
• Texas Presence: Texas A&M, SMU (historically suspended)
• Pattern: Paddling and forced drinking traditions

Legal Strategy Implications

These national patterns help establish:

• Foreseeability: The national organization knew this could happen
• Notice: Prior incidents put them on alert
• Inadequate Response: Their policies failed to prevent recurrence
• Punitive Damages Grounds: Repeated warnings ignored

In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters had the Andrew Coffey death from 2017 showing exactly what could happen with forced drinking and physical hazing—yet similar patterns allegedly recurred at UH in 2025.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, Strategy for Oyster Creek Families

When hazing affects your family, understanding what makes a strong case helps you make informed decisions. Here’s what experienced hazing attorneys investigate.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications:

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok messages
• Recovered deleted messages through digital forensics
  Our video on using your phone to document evidence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) explains best practices for Brazoria County families.

Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed during events (often shared in group chats)
• Security camera footage from houses and venues
• Injury documentation from multiple angles over time

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
• Emails/texts about “what we’ll do to pledges”
• National risk management policies and training materials

University Records (via discovery or public records requests):

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Campus police incident reports
• Clery Act reports and hazing disclosures

Medical & Psychological Records:

• ER/hospitalization records (critical in rhabdomyolysis cases like Bermudez’s)
• Surgery and rehabilitation notes
• Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges, members, roommates
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Bystanders, RAs, coaches, trainers

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages/income
• Diminished earning capacity for permanent injuries
• Educational costs (missed semesters, transferred schools)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Reputational harm

Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, guidance
• Family members’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (when conduct is egregious):

• Purpose: Punish and deter exceptionally reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants had prior warnings, showed callous indifference, or attempted cover-ups
• Texas has statutory caps except in certain intentional tort cases

Note: We describe damage categories, not guarantee specific amounts. Every case differs based on facts, evidence, jurisdiction, and many factors.

Insurance Coverage Complexities

Fraternities, sororities, and universities carry insurance policies that often become battlegrounds. Insurers may argue:

• Hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage
• The policy doesn’t cover certain defendants
• Notice requirements weren’t met

Our firm’s unique advantage: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements, and deploy delay tactics. This insider knowledge is invaluable when fighting for Oyster Creek families.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Oyster Creek Families

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
• Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring, anxiety when messages arrive
• Academic decline, missed classes, dropping grades
• Financial requests without clear explanations

How to Talk to Your Child:

• Use open questions: “How are things with [organization]? Are they respecting your time?”
• Avoid judgment: “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
• Emphasize safety: “You can always leave, and we’ll support you.”
• Listen without interrupting if they begin to share

If Your Child Is Hurt:

1. Medical care first: Even if they resist, get professional evaluation
2. Document everything: Write down what they tell you with dates/times
3. Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
4. Contact an attorney: Before talking to university or insurance

Dealing with the University:

• Document all communications (emails, calls, meetings)
• Ask specific questions about prior incidents involving the organization
• Understand the school’s internal process but don’t rely on it for accountability
• Remember: University interests and family interests often differ

For Students: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something dangerous or degrading?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t do themselves?
• Am I told to keep secrets or lie about activities?
• Does this feel like initiation or just humiliation?

Safety First – How to Exit:

• If in immediate danger: Call 911 or campus police
• You have the legal right to leave at any time
• Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
• Send a clear resignation message: “I resign my membership effective immediately.”
• Do NOT attend “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation may occur

Evidence Collection for Students:

• Screenshot group chats with timestamps visible
• Record conversations (Texas is a one-party consent state)
• Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
• Save everything—don’t delete messages even if embarrassed
• Tell medical providers you were hazed so it’s documented

For Former Members/Witnesses: Coming Forward

If you participated and now regret it:

• Your testimony can prevent future harm
• Cooperation may be viewed favorably in legal proceedings
• You may want your own attorney to navigate potential exposure
• Protecting others can be part of your healing

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Evidence Be Destroyed
What families think: “Let’s delete these embarrassing messages.”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up; can be obstruction of justice.
What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately.

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind.”
Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses.
What to do instead: Document first, let your attorney handle communication.

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

4. Posting Details on Social Media
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. Waiting for University Investigation
What universities promise: “We’re handling this internally.”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run.
What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately.
Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

Hazing FAQ for Oyster Creek Families

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections with exceptions for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and individual capacity suits. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas Education Code §37.152 makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Consent is NOT a defense under Texas law (§37.155). Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t voluntary. This was central to the Max Gruver verdict in Louisiana.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas, but discovery rules may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. In cover-up cases, statutes may be tolled. Time is critical—call immediately.
Learn about Texas statutes of limitations in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. The Pi Delta Psi case that killed Chun Deng happened at a remote retreat but still resulted in organizational criminal conviction.

“Will my child’s name be public?”
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.

About Attorney911: Why Oyster Creek Families Choose Us

When your family faces a hazing crisis, 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 Oyster Creek and all of Brazoria County.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

Insurance Insider Advantage – Mr. Lupe Peña:
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider knowledge is critical when fighting for Oyster Creek families against well-funded opponents.

Complex Institutional Litigation – Ralph Manginello:
Ralph is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar corporations with unlimited legal budgets. His federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) and HCCLA criminal defense membership mean universities and national fraternities don’t intimidate us. We’ve faced bigger defendants.

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
Beyond the Bermudez case we’re actively litigating, we maintain comprehensive Texas Greek organization intelligence:

• 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with EINs, legal names, addresses from IRS B83 filings
• 1,423 fraternity/sorority organizations tracked across 25 Texas metros
• Metro-specific data: 188 Greek organizations in Houston metro, 510 in DFW, 154 in Austin
• Cross-validated brands: Organizations appearing in multiple public records systems

This means when your child is hazed, we don’t start from zero. We already know the organizational structure behind the letters.

Sample Texas Greek Organization Public Records (Illustrative):

• Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 36-4091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (also Houston, Commerce chapters)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Multiple Texas chapters including UT Tyler, Texas A&M, UH Victoria

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:
We’ve recovered millions in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime losses and life-care planners for catastrophic injuries. We understand how to present the full financial impact of hazing tragedies.

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability:
Ralph’s HCCLA membership means we understand criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses, former members, and families navigating both tracks.

Investigative Depth & Expert Network:
We deploy medical experts (for rhabdomyolysis, TBI, PTSD), digital forensics specialists (recovering deleted messages), Greek life culture experts, economists, and life-care planners. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Our Commitment to Oyster Creek Families

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach:
KC
Empathetic Listening: We start by listening to your story without judgment.
Thorough Investigation: We pursue every evidence lead—group chats, university files, national records.
Clear Communication: We explain your options in plain English, not legalese.
No Fee Unless We Win: Contingency fee basis means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
Watch our video explaining contingency fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
Spanish Services Available: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish—serving Hispanic families throughout Texas.

Take Action Today: Contact Attorney911

If hazing has impacted your family at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Oyster Creek, Brazoria County, and across Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation 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 what to expect
• Answer your 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 Services: Lupe Peña – lupe@atty911.com

Visit our wrongful death practice page: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/

Visit our criminal defense page: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/

Whether you’re in Oyster Creek or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions responsible for protecting your child failed. We can help hold them accountable and prevent this from happening to another family. Call us today.

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