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Mercer County (Earth/North America/United States/New Jersey/Mercer County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M in Pike Settlements Exposed | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 24, 2026 16 min read
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Hazing Lawyers in Mercer County, NJ – Protecting Students & Families from Greek Life Abuse

Attorney 911: Fighting for Hazing Victims in Mercer County and Beyond

🚨 Hazing Is Happening at Mercer County Colleges – And It’s More Dangerous Than You Think

Mercer County is home to prestigious institutions like Princeton University, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Rider University, and Mercer County Community College—all with active Greek life organizations. While fraternities and sororities promise brotherhood, leadership, and lifelong connections, too many Mercer County students are being subjected to brutal, life-threatening hazing rituals that cross the line into torture, assault, and medical emergencies.

What’s happening in Mercer County fraternities and sororities isn’t “tradition.” It’s abuse. And it’s illegal.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case that exposed waterboarding, forced eating until vomiting, 500 squats to the point of kidney failure, and wooden paddle beatings. The same fraternities and sororities operating in Mercer County have the same dangerous culture. And we’re here to hold them accountable.

If your child has been hazed in Mercer County, you have legal rights. We can help.

🔥 What Mercer County Parents Need to Know About Hazing

1. Hazing Is Illegal in New Jersey – And It’s a Crime

New Jersey has strict anti-hazing laws (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3) that make it a felony to force someone into dangerous, humiliating, or abusive initiation rituals. If your child was injured or traumatized, the fraternity, sorority, university, and even individual members can be criminally charged and civilly sued.

2. The Same Fraternities That Hazed Our Client Are Active in Mercer County

Fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma, and Sigma Chi—all with documented hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide—have chapters at Princeton, TCNJ, Rider, and other Mercer County schools. If they’re hazing students in Texas, they’re hazing students in Mercer County, NJ.

3. Universities Are Complicit – And They Can Be Sued

Colleges in Mercer County know hazing happens. They receive reports. They suspend chapters. But they rarely stop it—because Greek life brings in donations, alumni networks, and prestige. When a Mercer County student is hospitalized or traumatized, the university shares liability for failing to protect them.

4. Hazing Causes Permanent Harm – Medical, Psychological, and Financial

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It leads to:
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that can cause kidney failure)
Alcohol poisoning & death (forced binge drinking is a leading cause of hazing fatalities)
Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings, falls, or lack of oxygen)
PTSD, anxiety, and depression (many victims drop out or struggle for years)
Sexual assault & humiliation (forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects)
Financial ruin (medical bills, therapy costs, lost scholarships)

Our client was hospitalized for four days with kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, waterboarded, and beaten with wooden paddles. This is happening in Mercer County, too.

💀 Hazing Deaths & Lawsuits That Prove Mercer County Families Can Win

Hazing isn’t just a “Mercer County problem”—it’s a national epidemic. And the courts are holding fraternities, sororities, and universities financially accountable.

Case Fraternity University Outcome Why It Matters for Mercer County
Stone Foltz (2021) Pi Kappa Alpha Bowling Green State $10.1M settlement Same fraternity operating in Mercer County
Maxwell Gruver (2017) Phi Delta Theta LSU $6.1M jury verdict Juries award millions for hazing victims
Timothy Piazza (2017) Beta Theta Pi Penn State $110M+ settlement Universities pay when they fail to stop hazing
Andrew Coffey (2017) Pi Kappa Phi Florida State Confidential settlement Same fraternity; same deadly culture
Leonel Bermudez (2025) Pi Kappa Phi University of Houston $10M lawsuit (pending) Our case – proving Mercer County victims can sue

If these families won millions, Mercer County families can too.

🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Mercer County?

When a student is hazed in Mercer County, multiple parties are legally responsible:

Defendant Why They’re Liable Example from Our Case
Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter Directly organized and conducted hazing Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH
National Fraternity/Sorority Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis” Pi Kappa Phi National admitted they knew
University/College Owned fraternity house; failed to stop hazing UH owned the house where waterboarding happened
Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) Led hazing activities; gave orders Named as defendants in our lawsuit
Individual Members Participated in hazing; failed to stop it Multiple members named in lawsuit
Alumni Who Hosted Hazing Allowed hazing at their homes Former member and spouse named as defendants
Insurance Companies Cover medical bills, legal fees, settlements National orgs and universities have deep pockets

Mercer County families: If your child was hazed, we will sue every single party responsible.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Mercer County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

  • Go to the ER if your child is injured, vomiting, passing out, or showing signs of rhabdomyolysis (dark urine, severe muscle pain).
  • Document everything. Get copies of all medical records.
  • If your child was sexually assaulted, go to a hospital for a forensic exam.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used (paddles, hoses, etc.).
Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails).
Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing. It’s evidence.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone

  • They will try to get your child to sign away their rights.
  • They will twist their words to blame them.
  • They will destroy evidence if they can.

Step 4: Call a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

The statute of limitations in New Jersey is 2 years. If you wait, you lose your right to sue.

Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

💰 What Mercer County Hazing Victims Can Recover

Hazing cases can result in millions of dollars in compensation for:

1. Medical Expenses

  • ER visits
  • Hospital stays
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy
  • Future medical care (dialysis, kidney transplants, etc.)

2. Lost Wages & Future Earnings

  • Time missed from work
  • Lost internships
  • Career setbacks from trauma

3. Pain & Suffering

  • Physical pain from beatings, forced exercise, waterboarding
  • Emotional trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
  • Humiliation and shame

4. Punitive Damages (Punishment for the Defendants)

  • When hazing is intentional, reckless, or part of a pattern, courts award extra money to punish the fraternity and prevent future abuse.
  • Our $10 million demand includes punitive damages because Pi Kappa Phi knew about their “hazing crisis” and did nothing.

5. Wrongful Death (If Your Child Died from Hazing)

  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost future earnings

Mercer County families: You don’t have to pay us anything upfront. We work on contingency—we only get paid if we win your case.

🎓 Greek Life at Mercer County Schools – The Hidden Dangers

Princeton University

  • Fraternities: Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE), and more.
  • Sororities: Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, and others.
  • Hazing Risks: Princeton has a long history of Greek life controversies, including alcohol-related incidents and exclusionary practices. While the university has banned “official” fraternity housing, off-campus hazing still occurs.

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)

  • Fraternities: Sigma Pi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Lambda Theta Phi, and others.
  • Sororities: Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Kappa, and more.
  • Hazing Risks: TCNJ has suspended fraternities in the past for hazing violations. In 2019, Sigma Pi was suspended for alcohol-related misconduct, a common precursor to hazing.

Rider University

  • Fraternities: Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and others.
  • Sororities: Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Zeta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and more.
  • Hazing Risks: Rider has investigated multiple hazing complaints in recent years. In 2021, Phi Kappa Tau was placed on probation for violating student conduct policies.

Mercer County Community College (MCCC)

  • Greek Organizations: While MCCC doesn’t have traditional fraternities/sororities, honor societies and student clubs sometimes engage in hazing-like behavior.
  • Hazing Risks: Even at community colleges, initiation rituals can cross the line into abuse.

If your child attends any of these schools—or any college in Mercer County—they are at risk.

🔍 Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed in Mercer County

Hazing often starts with “harmless” activities that escalate into abuse. Red flags include:

Sleep deprivation – Forced to stay up all night, drive members around, or do tasks at odd hours.
Extreme physical exhaustion – Forced to do hundreds of pushups, squats, or running drills until they collapse.
Forced eating/drinking – Made to consume large amounts of alcohol, food, or non-food items until they vomit.
Waterboarding or simulated drowning – Sprayed with hoses, held underwater, or forced to endure water torture.
Beatings with objects – Struck with paddles, belts, or other weapons.
Humiliation & degradation – Forced to wear embarrassing clothing, carry sexual objects, or endure verbal abuse.
Isolation & threats – Told they’ll be expelled from the fraternity/sorority if they don’t comply.
Secrecy & fear – Your child refuses to talk about their activities or seems anxious, depressed, or withdrawn.

If you notice any of these signs, your child may be in danger. Call us immediately.

🏆 Why Mercer County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10M Hazing Lawsuit – And Winning

  • We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized with kidney failure after Pi Kappa Phi hazed him.
  • The fraternity waterboarded him, forced him to do 500 squats, and beat him with wooden paddles.
  • We’ve already shut down the chapter, and now we’re going after millions in damages.
  • This is the same fight we’ll bring to Mercer County.

2. We Know How to Sue Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities

  • Former insurance defense attorneys – We know their tactics.
  • Federal court admission – We can sue national organizations anywhere.
  • Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York) – We can take on out-of-state defendants.
  • Experience with multi-million-dollar cases – We’ve won millions for personal injury victims.

3. We Travel to Mercer County for Your Case

  • We’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve clients nationwide.
  • We’ll come to Mercer County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
  • We offer video consultations for Mercer County families who can’t travel.

4. We Work on Contingency – You Pay Nothing Upfront

  • No fees unless we win.
  • No hourly charges.
  • No hidden costs.
  • We only get paid if you get paid.

5. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

  • Hazing affects all communities, including Mercer County’s Hispanic and Latino students.
  • Our team is bilingual and can assist Spanish-speaking families.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Mercer County hazing victims and families – you don’t have to fight this alone.

Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We will:
Evaluate your case for free.
Explain your legal rights.
Preserve all evidence.
Sue every responsible party.
Fight for maximum compensation.

The clock is ticking. The statute of limitations in New Jersey is 2 years. Call now.

🚨 To Mercer County Fraternities & Sororities: We Are Watching

If your chapter is hazing students in Mercer County, know this:

  • We are tracking your organization.
  • We know your national headquarters’ insurance policies.
  • We know your university’s liability.
  • We will sue you, your members, and your alumni.
  • We will shut you down.

The same legal strategies that won $10 million in Texas apply to your Mercer County chapter.

Clean up your act now—or face the consequences in court.

📢 To Mercer County Universities: You Are Next

Princeton, TCNJ, Rider, MCCC – we’re coming for you too.

  • You own the fraternity houses.
  • You profit from Greek life.
  • You fail to stop the abuse.
  • You share liability.

Our $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston proves it. Mercer County schools will be next.

💔 To Mercer County Families: We See You

We know how hard this is. You sent your child to college expecting them to be safe, respected, and supported. Instead, they were tortured, humiliated, and traumatized.

You are not powerless. You have rights. And we will fight for you.

Call us now. Let’s hold them accountable together.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com

🔗 Related Resources for Mercer County Families

© 2025 Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Mercer County, NJ, and Nationwide
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont – Traveling to Mercer County for Your Case

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