The Definitive Guide to Hazing & Campus Accountability for Saginaw, Texas Families

As a parent in Saginaw, your worst fear might be receiving a call in the middle of the night that your child is in the hospital after a “fraternity event” or “team bonding.” That call often comes after weeks of your student seeming exhausted, secretive, or changed. Right now, in Harris County, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—the $10 million lawsuit involving Leonel Bermudez, the University of Houston, and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This case proves that severe, life-altering hazing is not a distant horror; it’s happening at Texas universities where Saginaw families send their children. If your child attends UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any Texas campus, this guide is for you.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), Texas-based hazing litigation specialists. We serve families across Texas, including those in Saginaw, Fort Worth, and throughout Tarrant County. This comprehensive guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, and how to seek accountability when institutions fail.

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. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For Saginaw parents, understanding modern hazing means looking beyond stereotypes of “pranks” or “roughhousing.” Hazing is any coerced activity expected of someone joining or maintaining status in a group that endangers mental or physical health. In Texas, under Education Code Chapter 37, “consent” is not a defense.

The Evolution of Abuse: From Paddles to Phones

Hazing has evolved from physical “Hell Weeks” to sophisticated psychological and digital coercion. The four primary categories we see today are:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly. This includes forced consumption during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights, or drinking games like “Bible Study” where wrong answers mandate drinks. The national fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) has faced numerous lawsuits, including at Texas A&M where pledges suffered severe chemical burns, highlighting how rituals incorporate dangerous substances.
2. Physical & Psychological Hazing: This ranges from violent paddling and beatings to sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) designed to cause physical collapse. Psychological tactics include verbal abuse, isolation, and threats of expulsion from the group.
3. Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: This involves forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones. These rituals cause profound and lasting trauma.
4. Digital Hazing: A 2025 reality. Pledges are subjected to 24/7 monitoring via GroupMe or WhatsApp, required to share live locations, forced to post humiliating content on social media, or harassed via cyberstalking if they don’t comply.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, Saginaw parents must know it occurs in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs (as seen in Texas A&M lawsuits).
• Athletic teams (football, baseball, cheer).
• Spirit and tradition organizations (like the Texas Cowboys).
• Marching bands and performance groups.
• Cultural and academic clubs.

The common thread is a power imbalance, a tradition of secrecy, and a culture that prioritizes loyalty over safety.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Guide for Saginaw Families

Texas has specific laws governing hazing. Understanding this framework is the first step to accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Statute

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Key provisions for Tarrant County families include:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing or retaliate against reporters can also face misdemeanor charges.
• Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Chapter 37.155 states that the victim’s consent is irrelevant. Courts recognize that “agreement” under peer pressure is not voluntary.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. This “Good Samaritan” principle is meant to encourage calling 911 in emergencies.

Civil Liability: Suing for Damages

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim or family to recover compensation and hold all responsible parties accountable. Potential defendants in a civil hazing case include:

• Individual perpetrators who planned or carried out acts.
• The local chapter as an entity.
• The national fraternity/sorority headquarters for negligent supervision and failure to enforce policies.
• The university for deliberate indifference or negligent supervision (though public universities like UT or Texas A&M have some sovereign immunity protections).
• Third parties like landlords of off-campus houses or alcohol providers.

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

Federal laws create additional avenues for accountability:

• Title IX: Applies if hazing is sexualized or gender-based, requiring universities to investigate and address a hostile environment.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publish more transparent hazing data and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

Major national cases are not just news stories; they are legal precedents and blueprints that show how the same dangerous patterns repeat. For Saginaw families, these cases demonstrate the foreseeable risks that universities and national fraternities fail to prevent.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

This is the most common fatal pattern. It involves a planned event where new members are forced to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (2021): A Pi Kappa Alpha pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. The resulting $10 million settlement ($7M from nationals, ~$3M from the university) shows the financial stakes.
• Max Gruver, LSU (2017): A Phi Delta Theta pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. This led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (2017): A Pi Kappa Phi pledge died during a “Big Brother” night. The national organization involved—Pi Kappa Phi—is the same one we are currently suing in the University of Houston case.

The Violent Ritual Script

This involves physically dangerous traditions disguised as tests of loyalty.

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (2013): A Pi Delta Psi pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (2021): A Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) pledge suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants, illustrating the multi-party liability in severe injury cases.

The Institutional Failure Script

This pattern involves cover-ups and delayed medical care.

• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (2017): Beta Theta Pi members waited 12 hours to call 911 after Piazza’s fatal falls, captured on chapter house security cameras. The case led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law” and over 1,000 criminal charges.

Why This Matters for Saginaw: These cases create “pattern evidence.” If a fraternity at UH or Texas A&M uses the same “Big/Little” drinking ritual that killed someone at another school, it proves the national organization knew the danger and failed to stop it. This is a powerful legal argument for gross negligence.

Texas University Focus: Where Saginaw Families Send Their Kids

Saginaw is part of the vibrant and growing Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex. Families here send students to a wide range of Texas institutions, from massive state flagships to prestigious private universities. Each campus has its own Greek life ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

Many Saginaw students are drawn to the prestige and opportunities at UT Austin. Its Greek life is large and influential.

Campus Snapshot: UT Austin has a highly transparent public hazing violations log, which reveals ongoing issues despite strong policies.

Documented Incidents & Pattern:

• The public log shows repeated violations. For example, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was sanctioned in 2023 for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• In January 2024, an Australian exchange student filed a lawsuit against the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter, alleging an assault at a party left him with a dislocated leg, broken ligaments, and a fractured nose. The chapter was already on suspension for prior violations.
• Texas Spirits, a spirit organization, has faced multiple sanctions for hazing involving alcohol, sleep deprivation, and forced activities.

For Saginaw Families: A case at UT would likely involve the Austin Police Department and Travis County courts. UT’s public violation log is a double-edged sword: it shows a pattern of known issues that can strengthen a civil lawsuit alleging negligent supervision.

Texas A&M University

The culture and tradition of Texas A&M, including its prominent Corps of Cadets, attracts many students from across Texas.

Campus Snapshot: Hazing issues exist within both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets, with a history of serious allegations.

Documented Incidents & Pattern:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Two pledges sued, alleging they were doused with a mixture including industrial-strength cleaner and raw eggs, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023): Ongoing litigation involves allegations of extreme physical hazing leading to rhabdomyolysis—the same life-threatening kidney injury suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH.

For Saginaw Families: Texas A&M’s status as a public university affects litigation strategies. Cases may involve the Brazos County District Attorney for criminal charges and complex arguments about sovereign immunity in civil suits.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

SMU’s private, affluent campus in Dallas has a significant Greek life presence.

Campus Snapshot: As a private university, SMU has fewer public reporting requirements, but incidents still surface.

Documented Incidents:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended after reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. It faced recruiting restrictions until 2021.

For Saginaw Families: With SMU in Dallas County, litigation would proceed in Dallas courts. The private university status means different discovery rules and no sovereign immunity defense.

Baylor University

Baylor’s Waco campus, with its religious affiliation, presents a unique context.

Campus Snapshot: Baylor has faced national scrutiny over institutional responses to campus abuse, following a major athletic scandal.

Documented Incidents:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, highlighting that abuse extends beyond Greek life.

For Saginaw Families: Baylor’s location in McLennan County means any civil filing would be in Waco. The university’s past challenges with institutional accountability can be relevant to a hazing case strategy.

University of Houston (UH) – A Flagship Example

The ongoing case we are litigating serves as the most current and severe example of what Texas hazing can involve.

The Leonel Bermudez / Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Case:
In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a UH student who nearly died from fraternity hazing. According to the complaint and media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s pledge experience in Fall 2025 involved:

• Humiliation: A “pledge fanny pack” rule requiring him to carry condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices.
• Forced Labor: Hours-long “study” blocks, overnight driving duties, and strict interview schedules.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: Sprints, bear crawls, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and a November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.
• Catastrophic Injury: This abuse led to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He was hospitalized for four days after passing brown urine and faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, after receiving reports. Members voted to surrender the charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

For Saginaw Families: This case, happening right now in Harris County, demonstrates the real, immediate danger. It also shows our firm’s active, front-line experience in complex hazing litigation against a major university and national fraternity.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look for Saginaw Parents

Our firm maintains the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database built from public records to track the organizations behind campus Greek life. This investigative depth is what sets us apart. For Saginaw parents, understanding this landscape is key.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Greek Landscape

Saginaw sits within the DFW metro, which, according to our analysis of IRS and Cause IQ data, contains over 510 Greek-related organizations—the highest concentration in Texas. These aren’t just undergraduate chapters; they include alumni associations, housing corporations, and honor societies that form the financial and operational backbone of Greek life.

A Snapshot of DFW Metro Greek Entities (From Public Records):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244. Listed in Cause IQ metro data as operating in Fort Worth.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147. A foundation supporting Kappa Sigma chapters.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Frisco TX Alumni Chapter, EIN 920575785, Frisco, TX 75034. Shows the reach of national fraternities into suburban alumni networks.
• Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) national headquarters is in the Dallas area, with numerous alumnae chapters and support entities registered locally.

The Statewide Network

Beyond DFW, our data tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at a Texas school, they are connecting to this vast, interconnected network of local chapters, alumni funding boards, and national headquarters—all of which may carry liability when hazing occurs.

Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
When hazing happens, the immediate reaction of national organizations is often to claim the local chapter was “rogue.” Our data engine allows us to immediately identify every related entity—the housing corporation that owns the house, the alumni board that provides funding, the national headquarters that sets policy. This allows us to build a comprehensive case against all responsible parties and their insurance carriers from day one.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

If hazing has harmed your child, taking strategic, informed action is critical. Here is how a serious hazing case is built.

Critical Evidence in the Digital Age

The evidence that wins modern hazing cases is often digital. Preservation is everything.

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and social media DMs. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during events, social media posts, and security camera footage.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, chapter meeting notes, emails from national headquarters.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same organization, obtained through discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries (like rhabdomyolysis or PTSD) directly to the hazing events.

The Damages Families Can Recover

In a civil lawsuit, damages are designed to compensate for harm and hold defendants accountable.

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost tuition if the student must withdraw, and loss of future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and their own emotional anguish.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly reckless or malicious conduct, courts can award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantages for Texas Families

We bring a unique combination of skills to hazing litigation:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. This insider knowledge is invaluable in negotiations and trial.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City explosion litigation means we are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants or unlimited defense budgets. We know how to manage massive discovery and expert testimony.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal hazing process and can advise clients on interacting with law enforcement, a crucial skill when cases have both civil and criminal components.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Saginaw Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Student is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme physical or mental exhaustion.
• Sudden secrecy about activities or friend groups.
• Anxiety about phone notifications (constant group chat demands).
• Personality changes: withdrawal, irritability, depression.
• Grades plummeting due to “mandatory” late-night events.

What to Do if You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve noticed you’re exhausted and stressed. Is there anything about your [fraternity/sorority/team] that’s making you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger or injury, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything before messages are deleted. Photograph injuries.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional evaluation. Tell the doctor the context: “This injury may be from hazing.”
5. Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: Once you involve the university, the organization will circle the wagons. An attorney can guide you on strategic reporting to preserve legal options.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely

If you feel pressured, unsafe, or humiliated, it’s hazing. Trust your instinct.

• Exiting Safely: You have the right to quit. Tell a trusted person outside the group first (parent, RA, friend). Send a clear, written resignation to the chapter president. Do not attend a “final meeting” where you could be pressured or threatened.
• Reporting: You can report to the Dean of Students, campus police, or anonymously via campus hotlines. Texas law offers immunity for good-faith reporting.
• Evidence: Take your own screenshots and photos. You have the right to document what is happening to you.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Potential Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats is destruction of evidence and can be construed as obstruction.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and lawyer up.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: Universities may offer a quick internal resolution in exchange for waiving your right to sue. Do not sign anything without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be used by defense attorneys to distort the narrative and attack credibility.
5. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence and witness memories fade fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes, under certain theories like negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some immunity, but it is not absolute. Our ongoing UH case is a prime example of suing a public university system.

Q: My child “agreed” to it. Do we have a case?
A: Absolutely. Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Coercion, peer pressure, and power imbalance invalidate true consent.

Q: What if it happened at an off-campus house?
A: Location does not matter. Liability extends based on the organization’s sponsorship and control over the activity. The fatal Pi Delta Psi case happened at a remote retreat.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for civil cases. This means we only get paid if we recover money for you. There are no upfront costs. We advance all case expenses.

Why Saginaw Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve hazing victims and their families across Texas, including here in Saginaw and Tarrant County.

We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are institutional accountability specialists. The same skills we used against BP and international corporations are now focused on holding universities and national fraternities responsible for enabling a culture of abuse. We understand the traditions, the secrecy, and the insurance defenses used to avoid accountability.

Our approach is data-driven, using tools like the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, and client-centered, ensuring you are informed and supported at every step. We fight not just for compensation, but for change—to make campuses safer for the next generation of students from Saginaw and beyond.

Contact Attorney911 for a Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university, time is of the essence. Contact us for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

We will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and all available options.
• Outline our investigative strategy to identify all liable parties.
• Discuss the realistic timeline and process.
• Answer all your questions about costs and next steps.

You don’t have to navigate this nightmare alone. The institutions involved have powerful legal teams. You deserve the same level of advocacy.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston Report: 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/
• ABC13 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

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