Hazing Lawyers in Cumberland County, NJ | Attorney 911
Fighting for Hazing Victims and Their Families in Cumberland County
If your child has been hazed at a Cumberland County college or university, you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Cumberland County families with the same determination.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme hazing. The same fraternities operate at colleges and universities near Cumberland County. The same negligence exists at Cumberland County institutions. We know how to hold them accountable — and we will bring that same fight to Cumberland County.
Cumberland County Families: This Could Happen to Your Child
Hazing isn’t just a problem at big universities in other states. It happens right here in New Jersey, at colleges and universities near Cumberland County. The same national fraternities that waterboarded our client in Texas have active chapters at institutions in and around Cumberland County. The same “traditions” that hospitalized a student in Houston exist at Cumberland County-area fraternities and sororities.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Cumberland County, they face the same risks.
The Hazing Crisis in Cumberland County
Hazing is not harmless fun. It’s not “boys being boys.” It’s not “building character.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s happening at colleges near Cumberland County.
What hazing looks like in Cumberland County:
- Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical exertion causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
- Sleep deprivation and psychological torture
- Humiliation and degradation
- Physical beatings with paddles or other objects
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning
- Sexual assault and harassment
The consequences for Cumberland County students:
- Hospitalization
- Permanent physical injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Wrongful death
Our Cumberland County Hazing Case: What Happened in Houston Could Happen Here
In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a student who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after weeks of extreme hazing.
What they did to our client in Houston:
- Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning is torture
- Forced him to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
- Struck him with wooden paddles
- Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him keep running
- Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
- One pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
The result: Leonel Bermudez spent 3 nights and 4 days in the hospital with kidney failure. He was so weak he crawled up the stairs when he got home.
This didn’t happen in some distant state. This happened at a major university — the same type of institution your child might attend near Cumberland County.
Why Cumberland County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit. This isn’t theoretical for us — it’s happening now. Cumberland County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense lawyers. We know exactly how insurance companies think, how they try to minimize claims, and how to dismantle their defenses. We’ve seen their playbook from the inside — and now we use that knowledge to maximize recovery for victims.
3. Federal Court Authority
We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. This means we can pursue hazing cases in federal court — essential when suing national fraternities with chapters across the country.
4. Dual-State Bar Admission
We are licensed in both Texas and New York. This gives us strategic advantages in litigating against national fraternities and sororities that may be headquartered in different states.
5. Proven Results in High-Stakes Cases
Ralph Manginello was involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation — a multi-billion dollar mass tort case involving 15 deaths and 180+ injuries. We know how to take on massive institutions and win.
6. We Come to Cumberland County
We will travel to Cumberland County for depositions, client meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
7. Contingency Fee Representation
Cumberland County hazing victims pay $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
8. Bilingual Services
Se habla español. We serve Spanish-speaking Cumberland County families without language barriers.
Who Is Liable for Cumberland County Hazing?
When hazing happens in Cumberland County, multiple parties can be held accountable:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapter; knew about hazing risks |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; premises liability if they own/control property |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| Alumni | Allowed hazing at their homes; premises liability |
| Housing Corporations | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred |
The deep pockets: National fraternities and sororities have substantial assets and insurance. Universities have endowments and insurance. This is not about suing broke college students — it’s about holding institutions accountable.
Cumberland County Hazing Laws: Know Your Rights
New Jersey has strong anti-hazing laws that apply to Cumberland County:
New Jersey Statute 2C:40-3 — Hazing
“A person is guilty of hazing if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, he knowingly or recklessly organizes, promotes, facilitates or engages in any conduct, other than competitive athletic events, which places or may place another person in danger of bodily injury.”
Penalties:
- Fourth degree crime if the conduct creates a substantial risk of physical injury
- Third degree crime if the conduct creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death
- Third degree crime if the conduct results in bodily injury
- Second degree crime if the conduct results in serious bodily injury or death
Consent is NOT a defense in New Jersey. Even if a student “agreed” to participate, the law still holds the perpetrators accountable.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Cumberland County
If your child has been hazed at a Cumberland County college or university, act immediately:
- Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Preserve evidence — Save all texts, social media posts, photos, videos
- Document everything — Write down what happened, when, where, and who was involved
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university alone — They will try to control the narrative
- Do NOT post on social media — Anything you post can be used against you
- Contact an attorney immediately — The statute of limitations is short
Call Attorney 911 now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Cumberland County Colleges and Universities: Where Hazing Happens
While we cannot comment on specific incidents at Cumberland County institutions, we know that hazing occurs at colleges and universities throughout New Jersey, including those near Cumberland County. The same national fraternities and sororities with hazing histories operate at institutions in and around Cumberland County.
Some of the colleges and universities near Cumberland County where Greek life exists include:
- Rowan University
- Stockton University
- Rowan College of South Jersey (Cumberland Campus)
- Rutgers University-Camden
- Delaware State University (nearby in Delaware)
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at any Cumberland County-area institution, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
The Hazing Culture: Why It Continues in Cumberland County
Hazing persists at Cumberland County-area colleges and universities because:
- Institutions prioritize reputation over safety — Universities don’t want negative publicity, so they cover up hazing until someone gets seriously hurt or dies
- National organizations fail to supervise — Fraternities and sororities with chapters near Cumberland County have known about hazing for decades but haven’t fixed the culture
- Peer pressure and fear — Students are afraid to speak out because they fear social retaliation or losing their Greek life membership
- “Tradition” is used as an excuse — “We’ve always done it this way” doesn’t justify abuse
- Victims are blamed — “You consented,” “You could have left,” “It’s not that bad” — these are all excuses to avoid accountability
Hazing Doesn’t Build Brotherhood — It Destroys Lives
Hazing doesn’t create lifelong bonds. It creates lifelong trauma. The students who survive hazing often suffer from:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety and depression
- Trust issues and social isolation
- Academic decline
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal ideation
This is not what college is supposed to be about. College should be about learning, growing, and preparing for the future — not about being tortured in the name of “tradition.”
Cumberland County Parents: You Sent Your Child to College to Be Safe
You sent your child to college near Cumberland County expecting them to be safe. You trusted the university to protect them. You trusted the fraternity or sorority to provide a positive experience.
That trust was betrayed.
When a fraternity or sorority hazes your child, they violate that trust. When a university fails to stop hazing, they violate that trust. They need to be held accountable.
Our Message to Cumberland County Fraternities and Sororities
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Cumberland County:
We are watching. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements across the country.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your Cumberland County chapter.
If you haze students in Cumberland County, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every insurance policy. We will depose your leadership. We will expose your culture.
The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million lawsuit is ongoing.
Your chapter could be next.
Our Message to Cumberland County Universities
To the colleges and universities near Cumberland County:
You have a legal and moral duty to protect your students. When you own or control fraternity and sorority houses, you have a premises liability to ensure those properties are safe.
The University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where our client was waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats until he couldn’t stand. They knew about a prior hazing incident in 2017 at another fraternity. They failed to act. Now they’re a defendant in a $10 million lawsuit.
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
Act now — or face the same accountability.
Cumberland County Families: We Will Fight for You
If your child has been hazed at a Cumberland County college or university, you have legal rights. You deserve compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost academic opportunities
- Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers and prevent future hazing)
We will fight for Cumberland County families with the same determination we’re bringing to our current $10 million hazing case.
Cumberland County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone
Hazing victims often feel isolated, ashamed, and afraid to speak out. You are not alone.
- 55% of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing
- 40% of student athletes report being hazed
- 95% of students who experience hazing do not report it
We understand the pressure you’re under. We understand the fear of retribution. We understand the loyalty you feel to the organization that hurt you.
But you have to speak up. For yourself. For your family. For the next student who might be hurt if you stay silent.
Cumberland County Hazing Lawyers: Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed at a Cumberland County college or university, contact Attorney 911 immediately for a free consultation.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 — Available 24/7 for Cumberland County hazing emergencies
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Video Consultations: Available for Cumberland County families
We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
Cumberland County Families: The Time to Act Is Now
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New Jersey is 2 years from the date of injury. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Memories fade.
If you wait, you may lose your right to seek justice forever.
Call Attorney 911 now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Together, We Can End Hazing in Cumberland County
Hazing doesn’t have to be part of the college experience. With accountability, we can change the culture.
Our client in Houston said it best through his attorneys:
“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” — Lupe Pena
Your Cumberland County case could save lives. Let’s bring hazing to light in Cumberland County.
Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Cumberland County, NJ and nationwide from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
Cumberland County Hazing Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We will travel to Cumberland County for your case. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
