Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Seagraves Parents, Students, and Families

A college student from Seagraves is on a scholarship at a major Texas university. It’s supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Then, during what’s called a “pledge reveal” or “team-building workout,” things go terribly wrong. He’s forced to drink far beyond any safe limit, or pushed through an extreme physical ordeal under threats of expulsion from the group. Later, he’s vomiting, disoriented, or worse—collapsing, unable to stand, and rushed to the emergency room by panicked friends. Back home in Gaines County, his parents get a terrifying call: their child is in a Texas hospital with kidney failure or a traumatic brain injury, all for the sake of joining a campus organization he’d hoped would become his new family. This is not a hypothetical.

It is the brutal reality of modern hazing happening right now on Texas campuses. We know because we are currently leading the fight against it as the legal team behind one of the most significant hazing lawsuits in Texas. For Seagraves families—whether your children attend nearby West Texas schools or travel to major hubs like Texas Tech, Texas A&M, or the University of Houston—understanding this reality is the first step toward accountability, recovery, and prevention.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency

Do not wait. Every minute matters for evidence and health.

IF YOUR CHILD IS IN DANGER RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for immediate medical emergencies.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-288-9911. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS:

• Seek Immediate Medical Care: Go to the ER. Even if injuries seem minor, conditions like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) can lead to kidney failure within days. Tell doctors you suspect hazing.
• Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
  • Screenshot everything: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, text threads), social media posts, and DMs.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Include a ruler or coin for scale. Take photos again over several days to show bruising progression.
  • Save physical items: Do not wash clothing with stains. Keep any objects used (paddles, bottles, props).
  • Write it down: Document names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly. This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
  • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Let your child delete messages to “avoid more trouble.”

CONTACT EXPERIENCED HAZING LAWYERS: Evidence disappears fast. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control narratives. We can help you preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

The Case That Changed Everything: Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

Before we discuss laws, data, or strategies, you need to know about the case that proves the gravity of Texas hazing today. We are not speaking theoretically; we are currently litigating one of the most severe hazing lawsuits in the country, right here in our state.

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student at the University of Houston (UH), joined the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter in Fall 2025. What followed was not brotherhood, but a months-long campaign of systematic abuse that nearly killed him. The allegations, detailed in a $10 million lawsuit and covered by major Houston media, include:

1. Humiliation & Control: Being forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 with degrading items (condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices). Enforced dress codes, hours-long “study blocks,” and overnight chauffeuring duties.
2. Physical Torture: Extreme workouts, including sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills. Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” and threatened with the real thing. Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass.
3. Dangerous Forced Consumption: Compelled to drink milk and eat hot dogs and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to run sprints.
4. The Final Ordeal: On November 3, 2025, Leonel was forced to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion from the pledge class. He was left unable to stand without help.
5. Medical Catastrophe: His condition deteriorated over days. He began passing brown urine, a classic sign of severe muscle breakdown. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. Lab tests showed critically high creatine kinase levels, confirming the life-threatening damage. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney injury.

The lawsuit names a full universe of defendants: 13 individual fraternity leaders (president, pledgemaster, risk manager), the UH Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

The Institutional Response: On November 6, 2025, Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter after receiving reports. On November 14, chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing,” promised disciplinary action up to expulsion, and stated it would cooperate with law enforcement.

This is not an isolated event from years past. It is an active, high-stakes lawsuit happening right now. We represent Leonel Bermudez. This case is the flagship example of our firm’s commitment to taking on the most serious hazing abuses at Texas institutions. When we discuss liability, evidence, and institutional power, this is the case we are fighting.

For detailed media coverage of this lawsuit, you can read the reports from Click2Houston and ABC13.

Understanding Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Traditions”

For families in Seagraves and across West Texas, hazing might sound like an outdated relic or harmless pranks. The reality in 2025 is far more dangerous, sophisticated, and hidden. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining status in a group.

It evolves constantly to avoid detection. Here’s what it really looks like today:

Alcohol & Substance Hazing (The Most Common Killer):

• Forced consumption during “Big/Little” reveals, “family tree” games, or “lineups.”
• Coerced drinking of entire bottles of liquor or dangerous concoctions.
• Pressure to consume drugs or unknown substances.

Physical Hazing:

• “Smokings” or extreme workouts: Hundreds of push-ups/squats, wall-sits until collapse, bear crawls—framed as “conditioning.”
• Paddling, beating, or branding.
• Sleep and food deprivation: Mandatory all-night “study sessions,” withheld meals.
• Exposure: Locked in cold rooms, left outside in extreme weather.

Psychological & Humiliating Hazing:

• Verbal abuse, threats, and degradation.
• Forced nudity or simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks,” “roasted pig” positions).
• Public shaming, wearing degrading costumes, carrying humiliating items.

Digital Hazing (The New Frontier):

• 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, Discord)—instant response demanded.
• Forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges” or dares.
• Geo-tracking via phone apps; social media policing.
• Cyberstalking and harassment of those who try to quit.

KEY POINT: The “It Was Voluntary” Defense Fails. Texas law (Education Code §37.155) explicitly states that a victim’s consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts understand the immense power imbalance and social coercion at play during pledging. If the activity fits the definition, it is hazing, period.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Legal Framework for Seagraves Families

Texas has strong statutory tools to combat hazing. Understanding them is crucial for families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F (The Hazing Statute):

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. Location (on or off campus) does not matter.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • It is also a crime to fail to report hazing or to retaliate against someone who reports.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized the hazing or its officers knew and failed to report.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): As noted above.
• Good-Faith Reporter Immunity (§37.154): Those who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability related to the report. Many universities have amnesty policies for those who call 911 in alcohol-related emergencies.

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA) to punish with jail/fines. Outcomes like those in the Penn State (Piazza) or LSU (Gruver) cases.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim or family to recover compensation (damages) and hold parties accountable. This is separate and can proceed even if no criminal charges are filed. Our practice focuses on these complex civil cases.

Who Can Be Sued in a Civil Hazing Case?

1. Individual Students who planned, participated in, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity (if incorporated).
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters. This is critical. Nationals often have deep-pocketed insurance and can be liable for negligent supervision, failing to stop known patterns, or creating a dangerous culture.
4. The University. Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech can be liable for negligence if they knew or should have known about a dangerous pattern and failed to act. Public universities have some immunity, but exceptions exist.
5. Housing Corporations & Landlords who own the properties where hazing occurs.
6. Third Parties like bars or alcohol providers under dram shop laws.

National Hazing Patterns: The Script Repeats Itself in Texas

The devastating case at UH is part of a national pattern. Major lawsuits and reforms across the country show how predictable and preventable these tragedies are. For Seagraves families, these cases establish critical legal precedents about foreseeability and institutional duty.

Alcohol Poisoning Deaths – The Repeating Script:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. Result: $10+ million in settlements, multiple criminal convictions, and the chapter president ordered to personally pay $6.5 million.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Death from traumatic brain injury after a bid-night drinking gauntlet. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, massive civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’ “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” (felony hazing law) and a $6.1 million verdict for his family.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night. His case is a direct parallel to the national pattern we see with the same fraternity now at UH.

Severe Injury & Institutional Cover-Ups:

• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants.
• Collin Wiant – Ohio University (Sigma Pi, 2018): Death linked to hazing and nitrous oxide misuse. Led to “Collin’s Law” in Ohio.
• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations led to multiple lawsuits, coach termination, and confidential settlements, proving hazing extends far beyond Greek life.

What This Means for Texas: When a Texas chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or Pi Kappa Phi engages in the same forced-drinking rituals that have killed pledges elsewhere, the national organization cannot claim it was “unforeseeable.” This pattern evidence is the bedrock of strong civil lawsuits.

Where Seagraves Families Send Their Kids: The Texas University Landscape

Parents in Seagraves and Gaines County often have students attending a mix of regional schools and major state universities. Hazing is a risk wherever there are tight-knit groups seeking to initiate new members.

West Texas & Regional Universities:

• Texas Tech University (Lubbock): A major destination with a massive Greek life system, hundreds of student organizations, and athletic teams. Our data shows extensive Greek infrastructure in the Lubbock metro.
• West Texas A&M University (Canyon): Active Greek life and student groups.
• Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls): Greek organizations and athletic programs.
• Community Colleges & Technical Programs: While less common, hazing can occur in sports teams, clubs, or even vocational program cohorts.

Major Statewide Hubs (Common for Texas Students):

• Texas A&M University (College Station): Massive Greek system and the prominent Corps of Cadets, which has faced its own high-profile hazing lawsuits.
• University of Texas at Austin: One of the nation’s largest and most transparent Greek systems, with a public hazing violations log.
• University of Houston: As our Bermudez case proves, severe hazing persists at major urban commuter schools.
• Baylor University (Waco) & Southern Methodist University (Dallas): Prominent private universities with significant Greek life and athletic programs.

The connection is clear: the same national fraternities and sororities with deadly histories in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana operate identical chapters at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and UT Austin. The risk follows the brand.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Uncovering the Web of Responsibility

One of our firm’s greatest advantages is our data-driven approach. We maintain a proprietary investigation engine built on public records to map the entire Greek ecosystem in Texas. This means when a family from Seagraves comes to us, we don’t start from zero.

We know the players. Our database includes:

• IRS Records of Texas Greek Organizations: Over 125 tax-exempt entities (B83 classifications) registered in Texas—house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies. These are legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and addresses.
• Metro-Level Organization Mapping: We track Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. For example, the Lubbock metro (home to Texas Tech) has 59 such organizations; the Dallas-Fort Worth metro has over 500.
• University-Campus Links: A verified roster of which fraternities and sororities are officially recognized at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor, and others.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Entities (From Public IRS Filings):
To illustrate the depth of our directory, here are examples of Greek organizations registered in Texas. This is the kind of data we use to identify every potentially liable entity in a case.

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 371768785, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing – related to the UH case)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 Filing)

This is just a sample. We have the names, EINs, and addresses for hundreds more. Why does this matter? Because behind every chapter house on campus, there is often a housing corporation, an alumni board, and a national headquarters—each with its own insurance policies and assets. Our job is to identify them all to ensure full accountability and recovery for our clients.

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case against a national fraternity and a university is complex litigation. It requires an investigative depth and legal strategy that most personal injury firms lack. Here is how we approach it.

1. Evidence Collection – The Digital Paper Trail is Key:

• Group Chats & DMs: The #1 source of evidence. We secure screenshots and use digital forensics to recover deleted messages from GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord.
• Social Media: Posts, stories, snaps, and location tags that place individuals at events.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” scripts, emails from national headquarters, chapter meeting minutes.
• University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained through discovery or public records requests. UT Austin’s public hazing log is a starting point.
• Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to the hazing events. For rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case), this includes creatinine kinase levels and kidney function tests.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

2. Comprehensive Damages – Accounting for All Harm:
Our goal is to recover full and fair compensation for:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing therapy), future medical care, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression), humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.

We work with life-care planners, economists, and vocational experts to build a complete picture of the lifelong impact, especially in catastrophic injury cases.

3. Overcoming Defense Tactics – Our Insider Knowledge:
We know the defenses because Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows their playbook. Common defenses we dismantle include:

• “The Pledge Consented.” Irrelevant under Texas law.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter; National Didn’t Know.” We use pattern evidence from other chapters to prove foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus, Not Our Responsibility.” Courts consistently uphold liability for sponsored, off-campus activities.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts.” We argue negligent supervision by nationals/universities is covered, and pursue all available policies.

Practical Guide for Seagraves Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & First Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, sprains), especially if the story changes.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities or new “brothers/sisters.”
• Personality changes: increased anxiety, depression, irritability, or withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money for “dues,” “fines,” or “supplies.”
• Declining academic performance or missing classes.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m concerned about you. Is anything happening in your [fraternity/sorority/team] that feels unsafe or wrong?”
2. Prioritize Safety & Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
3. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and the national headquarters—but consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
4. Contact a Lawyer Early: Do not wait for the university to “complete its investigation.” Evidence disappears daily.

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

Trust Your Gut. If you feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced, it is hazing.
You Have the Right to Leave. Your safety is more important than any organization.
To Exit Safely:

• Tell a trusted person outside the group (parent, friend, advisor) first.
• Send a clear, written resignation (text/email) to the chapter president.
• Do NOT attend a “final meeting” where you could be pressured or threatened.
• If you experience retaliation, report it to campus authorities immediately and document everything.

You Have Legal Protections: Texas law offers immunity for good-faith reporting. Many schools have medical amnesty policies if you call 911 for someone who is overdosing.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Do not let your child “clean up” their phone. Preserve all messages.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Do not sign any waivers, releases, or “internal resolution” agreements without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense lawyers monitor everything. Inconsistencies can be used against you.
5. Waiting Too Long: The statute of limitations is ticking, and memories fade. Call a lawyer immediately.

Watch our video on common client mistakes that can ruin an injury case.

Why Seagraves Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need a dedicated team with the specific skills to win against powerful institutions. Here is why our firm is uniquely equipped for Texas hazing litigation.

1. We Are Fighting the Landmark Texas Case Right Now.
Our active representation of Leonel Bermudez against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is not past history—it’s our current practice. We are in the trenches with the tactics, defenses, and strategies used by major universities and national fraternities today.

2. Data-Driven Investigation from Day One.
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, featuring thousands of data points on Greek organizations, means we start your case with a map, not a blank page. We know how to find every liable entity and its insurance.

3. Insider Insurance Knowledge.
Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and lowball settlements. We use their playbook against them.

4. Proven Experience Against Giant Institutions.
Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have taken on billion-dollar corporations with unlimited legal budgets. We are not intimidated by university regents or national fraternity headquarters.

5. Comprehensive Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience.
We have recovered millions for families in the most severe injury and wrongful death cases. We work with top medical experts, economists, and life-care planners to document the true, lifelong cost of an injury.

6. Spanish-Language Services Available.
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas with compassion and understanding.

7. “We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win.”
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs or hourly fees. Our fee comes only from the recovery we secure for you, aligning our success with yours.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in Seagraves, Lubbock, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to face this alone. The path to accountability and recovery begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

We will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic process, timeline, and strategies.
• Answer all your questions, including how contingency fees work.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or email Ralph Manginello at ralph@atty911.com or Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

For more information about our firm’s experience in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, visit https://attorney911.com.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is fact-specific, and outcomes depend on the unique circumstances, evidence, and applicable law. If you believe you or your child has been a victim of hazing, we strongly urge you to consult immediately with a qualified attorney to discuss your legal rights and options. Statutes of limitations apply. Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a case-specific consultation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC | Attorney911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
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