Joining a Greek organization on campus can be an incredibly rewarding experience for college students. Being part of a fraternity or sorority offers many benefits, including opportunities for personal growth and development, leadership roles, academic support, social activities, and networking. While the advantages to Greek life are numerous, there are still some fraternities and sororities that engage in illegal hazing activities and initiation rituals that can quickly turn dangerous. When hazing causes a serious injury or death, the university, student organization, and individual students may be liable for the harm that they caused.

University Student Sues After Fall Down Stairs

Recently, a Rutgers University student filed a negligence lawsuit against the university, the Theta Chi fraternity, and 13 individual fraternity members. Armand Runte alleged that he was forced to drink “life-threatening” amounts of alcohol during the fraternity's “Big Brother” night, which resulted in a fall down a staircase. Runte alleged that the fraternity destroyed or covered up evidence about how his injuries occurred, failed to seek medical help for his injuries for nearly three hours after his fall, and as a result, he suffered serious harm, including a traumatic brain injury and skull and facial fractures.

While New Jersey has some of the toughest anti-hazing laws in the country, it is still not enough to prevent illegal hazing activities that cause injury. In 2021, New Jersey increased the penalties for hazing through a statute known as Timothy J. Piazza's Law. The statute, found at N.J. Stat. 2C:40-3, was named for a student who died after falling down the stairs during a hazing ritual at Penn State. The law describes hazing as conduct that puts another person in danger of bodily injury as part of an initiation to a student or fraternal organization, which can include pressuring another person to use drugs or alcohol. The law requires all colleges and universities in New Jersey to adopt anti-hazing policies and penalties to prevent hazing on campus.

When an injury or death caused by hazing occurs, multiple people and entities may be responsible. In the lawsuit filed by Runte, Rutgers University may be held liable if they were aware of hazing in the Greek life system and failed to stop it. Theta Chi could be liable if the organization knew its members were hazing new initiates. The individuals involved in the hazing could also be held liable both for their actions in hazing Runte as well as for providing alcohol to underage students and failing to seek help after Runte's injuries.

Help After Hazing Injuries

While it remains to be seen if Runte's lawsuit will ultimately be successful, college students should know that help is available if they are injured in a fraternity, sorority, or other student organization's initiation rituals. Unfortunately, many universities and student organizations view hazing and initiation rituals as an important part of their traditions and history, and school officials may ignore reports of hazing until an injury or death occurs.

If you or your child was injured during a sorority or fraternity's initiation rituals, the Lento Law Firm will take your injury seriously and help you get the compensation you deserve after an injury caused by negligence. National educational attorney Joseph D. Lento has taken on school administrations of all levels and is not afraid to pursue justice from any college or university. Call 888.535.3686 today to learn more about how the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you.