Hazing Victims in Burlington County: Your Rights, Your Recourse

Burlington County Families: This Happens Here Too

You sent your child to college expecting them to be safe. You trusted the university, the Greek organizations, the system. But what happens when that trust is betrayed?

Hazing isn’t just a problem in Texas or Florida. It happens right here in Burlington County. At Rowan University. At Rutgers-Camden. At smaller colleges throughout South Jersey. The same fraternities that hospitalized our client in Houston have chapters operating right here in Burlington County. The same culture of abuse exists here too.

And if your child has been hazed in Burlington County, you have rights. We’re fighting this battle right now in Texas — and we’ll fight for Burlington County families with the same fury.

What Burlington County Parents Need to Know About Hazing

It’s Not “Tradition” — It’s Abuse

What happened to Leonel Bermudez in Houston is happening to students in Burlington County:

Physical abuse — forced exercise until collapse, beatings, paddling
Psychological torture — sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
Dangerous consumption — forced drinking, forced eating until vomiting
Sexual humiliation — carrying sexual objects, forced nudity
Waterboarding — simulated drowning with hoses

This isn’t “brotherhood.” This isn’t “team building.” This is assault. This is battery. This is torture.

The Same Fraternities Operate in Burlington County

The national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide have active chapters right here in Burlington County:

Pi Kappa Phi — the fraternity that hospitalized our client in Houston
Sigma Alpha Epsilon — paid $6.1 million after Max Gruver’s death
Beta Theta Pi — paid $110 million after Timothy Piazza’s death
Pi Kappa Alpha — paid $10 million after Stone Foltz’s death

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Burlington County, they face the same risks.

Universities Are Complicit

Universities in Burlington County have the same power — and the same failures — as University of Houston:

They own or control fraternity properties
They regulate Greek life
They receive complaints about hazing
They fail to act until someone gets hurt or killed

When they ignore hazing, they’re choosing reputation over student safety. And when students get hurt, those universities must be held accountable.

Burlington County Students Are at Risk

Leonel Bermudez wasn’t even enrolled at University of Houston when he was hazed. He was a “ghost rush” — a prospective member expected to transfer.

If fraternities will haze someone who isn’t even a student, imagine what they do to enrolled students in Burlington County.

The Hazing Crisis in Burlington County

Burlington County Has Universities with Greek Life

While Burlington County doesn’t have a major flagship university with large Greek systems, nearby institutions serve Burlington County students:

Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ) — Active Greek life with fraternities and sororities
Rutgers University-Camden — Greek organizations serving South Jersey students
Stockton University (Galloway, NJ) — Greek life presence
Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ) — Greek organizations
The College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ) — Active Greek life

These universities serve Burlington County students. And where there are Greek organizations, there is risk of hazing.

Burlington County Students Attend Schools Nationwide

Many Burlington County students attend colleges across America where hazing is rampant:

Penn State — Beta Theta Pi hazing death ($110M settlement)
LSU — Phi Delta Theta hazing death ($6.1M verdict)
Bowling Green — Pi Kappa Alpha hazing death ($10M settlement)
Florida State — Pi Kappa Phi hazing death

If your Burlington County child attends college out of state, they face the same hazing risks. And we can represent them regardless of where the hazing occurred.

Burlington County Has a Hazing History

New Jersey has seen its share of hazing tragedies:

2017 — Timothy Piazza died at Penn State Beta Theta Pi (though not NJ-based, NJ students attend Penn State)
2012 — Chun “Michael” Deng died at Baruch College (NY) during Pi Delta Psi fraternity hazing — multiple NJ residents were charged
2007 — Gary DeVercelly Jr. died at Rider University from alcohol poisoning during Phi Kappa Tau hazing

Hazing isn’t just a distant problem. It’s happened in our region. And it will happen again in Burlington County unless we stop it.

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Burlington County

STEP 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

Hazing injuries can be life-threatening:

Rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that causes kidney failure (like our client)
Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal
Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
Internal injuries — from physical abuse
Psychological trauma — PTSD, anxiety, depression

If your child shows any of these symptoms after hazing, take them to the emergency room immediately:

✅ Severe muscle pain or weakness
✅ Dark or brown urine
✅ Difficulty walking
✅ Vomiting
✅ Confusion or disorientation
✅ Loss of consciousness
✅ Extreme fatigue or inability to move
✅ Signs of alcohol poisoning (slow breathing, pale skin, unconsciousness)

Burlington County hospitals:

Virtua Memorial Hospital (Mount Holly)
Virtua Willingboro Hospital
Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County (Willingboro)
Cooper University Hospital (Camden) — for severe cases

Document everything. Get copies of all medical records. This creates crucial evidence for your case.

STEP 2: Preserve All Evidence

Do not delete anything. Do not let your child delete anything.

Evidence to preserve:

Type	Examples
Texts/Messages	GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Snapchat, Instagram DMs about hazing
Photos/Videos	Injuries, hazing activities, fraternity house, alcohol containers
Social Media	Posts, stories, comments about hazing or pledge activities
Documents	Pledge manuals, schedules, rules, membership agreements
Clothing/Items	Clothes worn during hazing, objects used in hazing
Witness Info	Names and contact info of other pledges, witnesses, bystanders

If your child is still in the hazing environment:

Have them screenshot everything before it disappears
Have them save everything to a secure location
Have them document dates, times, locations, participants

If the hazing has already occurred:

Do not confront the fraternity or university alone
Do not post about it on social media
Contact an attorney immediately

STEP 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone

Fraternities and universities will try to control the narrative.

They may offer “apologies” that are really damage control
They may ask your child to sign documents waiving their rights
They may try to get your child to admit fault
They may pressure your child to stay quiet

Do not let your child talk to anyone from the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel present.

Anything your child says can be used against them in a legal case or disciplinary hearing.

STEP 4: Contact a Hazing Attorney Immediately

Time is critical.

Evidence disappears — fraternities delete messages, destroy documents
Witnesses forget — memories fade, people move on
Statutes of limitations expire — in New Jersey, you typically have 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit

We offer free, confidential consultations to Burlington County families.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911

We can:

Advise you on evidence preservation
Handle all communications with the fraternity and university
File a lawsuit if appropriate
Pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more
Hold all responsible parties accountable

We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Who Is Liable for Burlington County Hazing?

The Fraternity Chapter

The local chapter that organized and conducted the hazing is directly liable.

We pursue:

The chapter president
The pledgemaster
Active members who participated
Members who failed to stop the hazing

Stone Foltz precedent: Individual chapter officers can be held personally liable — one president was ordered to pay $6.5 million.

The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

The national organization that oversees the chapter shares liability.

Why they’re liable:

They knew about hazing risks (many have prior incidents)
They failed to supervise the local chapter
They failed to enforce their own anti-hazing policies
They have deep pockets and insurance coverage

Our Pi Kappa Phi case: The national organization is named in our $10 million lawsuit for failing to prevent hazing despite knowing about “a hazing crisis.”

The University

Universities in Burlington County can be held liable when they fail to protect students.

Why they’re liable:

They own or control fraternity properties
They regulate Greek life
They receive complaints about hazing
They have the power to suspend or remove dangerous organizations
They have insurance and substantial resources

University of Houston precedent: UH is named in our lawsuit for owning the fraternity house where hazing occurred and failing to prevent it despite a prior hazing incident in 2017.

Individual Members and Alumni

Every person who participated in, facilitated, or allowed hazing can be held personally liable.

This includes:

Current members who hazed
Former members who hosted hazing events
Alumni who provide financial or moral support
Spouses or property owners who allowed hazing on their premises

Why this matters: Individual liability means these people can’t hide behind the organization. They can be sued personally, and their assets and insurance can be pursued.

Insurance Companies

The real money comes from insurance policies.

Potential policies:

National organization’s liability insurance
University’s institutional insurance
Homeowner’s insurance (for off-campus locations)
Personal liability coverage of individual members

As former insurance defense attorneys, we know how to pursue these policies aggressively.

What Burlington County Families Can Recover

Medical Expenses

Emergency room visits
Hospital stays
Diagnostic tests
Surgeries
Medications
Rehabilitation
Future medical care (for permanent injuries)

Our client: Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. Medical bills can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Pain and Suffering

Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by hazing.

This includes:

Physical pain from injuries
Emotional trauma from abuse
Humiliation and shame
Anxiety and depression
PTSD symptoms
Fear of retribution

Our client: Fearful of doing an interview due to retribution — this fear is itself evidence of the psychological harm hazing causes.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Time missed from work during recovery
Impact on future career opportunities
Reduced earning capacity if injuries cause permanent limitations

Our client: Disruption to education and future plans.

Punitive Damages

Additional compensation meant to punish the defendants for egregious conduct and deter future hazing.

When punitive damages apply:

When conduct is intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent
When defendants knew about the risks and ignored them
When the conduct is particularly outrageous

Our case: Waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles — this conduct supports punitive damages.

Wrongful Death Damages

If hazing results in death, families can pursue:

Funeral expenses
Loss of companionship
Loss of future earnings
Pain and suffering of the deceased

Precedent: Timothy Piazza’s family received an estimated $110 million settlement.

New Jersey Hazing Laws — Know Your Rights

New Jersey Criminal Hazing Law (NJSA 2C:40-3)

New Jersey makes hazing a crime.

Definition of Hazing:

Any conduct, whether physical or mental, which subjects another person to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of joining or maintaining membership in any organization.

Criminal Penalties:

Offense Level	Conduct	Punishment
Disorderly Persons Offense	Hazing that does not result in serious bodily injury	Up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine
Fourth Degree Crime	Hazing that results in serious bodily injury	Up to 18 months prison, $10,000 fine
Third Degree Crime	Hazing that results in death	3-5 years prison, $15,000 fine

Key Provision:

Consent is not a defense. Even if the victim agreed to participate, the hazing is still illegal.

New Jersey Civil Liability

In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims can sue for damages in civil court.

Potential claims:

Negligence
Assault
Battery
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Premises liability (if hazing occurred on university property)
Negligent supervision

No cap on damages in New Jersey personal injury cases (unlike some other states).

New Jersey’s Anti-Hazing Policy for Schools (NJSA 18A:3B-66)

New Jersey requires all public and independent institutions of higher education to adopt anti-hazing policies.

Requirements include:

Prohibiting hazing in all forms
Defining hazing clearly
Providing education and prevention programs
Reporting hazing incidents to law enforcement

If a Burlington County university failed to implement these policies adequately, they may be liable for negligence.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Burlington County Hazing Case

We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

While we’re based in Texas, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we’ll bring that same expertise to Burlington County.

Our case involves:

Waterboarding with a garden hose
Forced exercise until kidney failure
500 squats, 100 pushups, wooden paddles
A student hospitalized for 4 days
A fraternity that knew about “a hazing crisis” and did nothing

Burlington County families get the same aggressive representation we’re providing in Texas.

Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims.

We know how they think. We know how they fight. We know how they try to minimize claims.

We know their investigation tactics
We know their delay strategies
We know their lowball settlement offers
We know how to dismantle their defenses

When you hire us, you’re not just getting lawyers — you’re getting former insiders who know exactly how to beat the system.

Federal Court Authority — We Can Handle Your Case Anywhere

We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and have experience in federal litigation.

This means:

We can represent Burlington County victims regardless of where the hazing occurred
We can pursue cases against national fraternity organizations headquartered anywhere in America
We can handle complex multi-state litigation

Distance is not a barrier. We’ll travel to Burlington County for depositions, meetings, and trials as needed.

Dual-State Bar Admission — Strategic Advantage

Ralph Manginello is licensed in Texas AND New York. Lupe Pena is licensed in Texas.

Why this matters for Burlington County cases:

Many national fraternities and sororities are headquartered in New York
New York has strong consumer protection laws
We can pursue litigation in multiple jurisdictions
We can coordinate with local New Jersey counsel when needed

Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

BP Texas City Explosion (2005):

Involved in multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation
15 workers killed, 180+ injured
Demonstrated ability to handle complex, high-stakes cases against massive corporate defendants

This experience directly applies to hazing cases involving institutional negligence and wrongful death.

Aggressive, Compassionate Representation

We treat our clients like family.

Our approach:

Immediate response — We move fast to preserve evidence
Aggressive advocacy — We don’t back down from powerful institutions
Compassionate support — We understand the trauma hazing victims experience
Transparent communication — You’ll always know what’s happening with your case

Testimonial from a client:

“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett

We Work on Contingency — You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We understand that cost can be a barrier to justice, especially for Burlington County families dealing with the aftermath of hazing.

Our fee structure:

$0 upfront — No retainer, no hourly fees
Contingency fee — We only get paid if we win your case
You keep the rest — After our fee and expenses are deducted from your settlement or verdict

This means:

You can afford top-tier legal representation
We take the financial risk, not you
You can focus on your child’s recovery while we handle the legal battle

Burlington County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

What Other Burlington County Families Are Facing

If your child has been hazed, you’re likely experiencing:

Anger — at the individuals who hurt your child
Betrayal — by the institutions you trusted
Fear — about your child’s physical and mental health
Confusion — about what to do next
Isolation — feeling like no one understands

You are not alone. We understand. And we’re here to help.

Common Questions from Burlington County Parents

1. “My child doesn’t want to report it. What should I do?”

Hazing victims often stay silent because of:

Fear of retaliation
Loyalty to the organization
Shame or embarrassment
Not recognizing it as hazing
Pressure from members to stay quiet

What you can do:

Document everything your child tells you
Preserve evidence (texts, photos, etc.)
Contact an attorney for confidential advice
Let your child know they have options

Remember: Consent is not a defense under New Jersey law. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the hazing is still illegal.

2. “The university says it’s handling it internally. Should we trust them?”

Universities often handle hazing “internally” to:

Protect their reputation
Minimize legal exposure
Control the narrative
Avoid negative publicity

Internal investigations rarely result in real accountability.

What to do instead:

Do not sign anything from the university
Do not let your child give a statement without legal counsel
Contact an attorney immediately
Consider filing a police report

3. “The fraternity says this was just ‘a few bad apples.’ Is that true?”

This is a common deflection tactic. The truth is:

Hazing is systemic in many Greek organizations
National fraternities have prior incidents at multiple chapters
Universities have prior complaints about hazing
“A few bad apples” don’t waterboard students or force 500 squats — this is cultural

Our case: Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017 (Andrew Coffey) and still didn’t fix their culture.

4. “Can we really sue a national fraternity? They’re so powerful.”

Yes. And that’s exactly why you should.

National fraternities:

Have millions in assets
Have liability insurance
Have prior incidents they want to hide
Have reputations they want to protect

They are not untouchable. We’ve sued them before. We’ll sue them again.

Stone Foltz precedent: Pi Kappa Alpha paid $7.2 million to the Foltz family.

5. “What if the hazing happened off-campus?”

Off-campus hazing is still illegal and still actionable.

Liability can extend to:

The fraternity chapter
The national organization
Individual members
Property owners (if hazing occurred at a private home)
The university (if they knew or should have known about off-campus hazing)

Our case: Hazing occurred at both a university-owned fraternity house and a private residence.

6. “How long will this take? We just want it to be over.”

We understand. These cases are emotionally draining.

Timeline factors:

Severity of injuries
Number of defendants
Cooperation of defendants
Whether litigation is required

Typical timelines:

Minor injuries, clear liability: 6-12 months
Moderate injuries: 12-18 months
Severe injuries, multiple defendants: 18-36 months
Wrongful death: 2-4 years

We work to resolve cases as quickly as possible while maximizing your recovery.

Burlington County Hazing Resources

Emergency Medical Care

Virtua Memorial Hospital (Mount Holly)
175 Madison Ave, Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 914-6000

Virtua Willingboro Hospital
218 Sunset Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046
(856) 835-6611

Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County (Willingboro)
218A Sunset Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046
(609) 835-2900

Cooper University Hospital (Camden) — Level 1 Trauma Center
1 Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 342-2000

Mental Health Support

NJ Hopeline (Suicide Prevention Hotline)
1-855-654-6735
https://www.njhopeline.com/

2nd Floor Youth Helpline (NJ)
1-888-222-2228 (call or text)
https://www.2ndfloor.org/

Trauma Recovery Center at Rutgers (Camden)
325 North 6th Street, Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-6510

Legal Resources

New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/

New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
1-800-322-6985
https://www.njsba.com/

Attorney 911 — Hazing Victim Representation
1-888-ATTY-911
ralph@atty911.com
https://attorney911.com

Hazing Prevention Organizations

Clery Center (Hazing Prevention)
https://clerycenter.org/

Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Site
https://www.hanknuwer.com/

StopHazing
https://stophazing.org/

Anti-Hazing Coalition
https://antihazingcoalition.org/

Burlington County: It’s Time to End the Silence

Hazing thrives in silence. It depends on victims being too afraid or ashamed to speak up. It depends on parents not knowing what to do. It depends on institutions protecting their reputations over student safety.

But silence is what allows hazing to continue.

We’re breaking that silence.

In Texas, we’re fighting a $10 million lawsuit against a fraternity that waterboarded a student. In Burlington County, we’re ready to fight for victims here too.

If your child has been hazed, we can help. If you suspect hazing is happening, we can help. If you just need advice, we can help.