Former St. Joseph's baseball player claims he was hazed and 'forcibly attacked' in lawsuit

Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Hazing at St. Joseph’s University

A former member of the St. Joseph’s University baseball team has initiated legal action against the Long Island institution. He claims that during a team trip in March, he was stripped, assaulted, and abandoned in the dark by his teammates.

The lawsuit, which surfaced on Monday in Suffolk County state Supreme Court, targets St. Joseph’s University, located in Patchogue, along with head coach Thomas Caputo, assistant coach Elliott Robles, and 30 unnamed teammates. It asserts there was a “pattern of harassment, bullying, physical assault, humiliation, retaliation, negligent supervision and misconduct” within the baseball program.

Details in the complaint, filed on behalf of the 18-year-old victim, outline numerous severe hazing incidents that were allegedly known to the coaching staff. Out of respect for the individuals involved, the names of those making complaints are not being revealed.

One particularly distressing allegation describes an incident in which the plaintiff was coerced to “stand naked and exposed” in front of teammates, given only a plastic cup for modesty—something he reportedly refused to do, unlike others.

The lawsuit further claims that on March 5, during a university-sanctioned trip to a game in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a teammate “forcibly attacked” the plaintiff. The narrative details how he was subjected to humiliating threats and physical assault, with individuals allegedly forcing their soiled underwear onto his face.

The suit argues that appropriate supervision was lacking during the incident, despite Robles asserting that he checked player rooms and monitored the situation. Court documents note that an investigation, which included Caputo and Robles, confirmed the victim’s account, indicating both were aware that he wasn’t the aggressor.

Despite this, attorney Mike Della, representing the victim, mentioned that no action was taken against the individuals responsible, while his client faced suspension instead. Others encountered no repercussions—a contradiction that raises serious concerns.

Della added that the victim is considering transferring schools and may not participate in baseball while dealing with the fallout from this situation.

The lawsuit also claims that this isn’t an isolated incident. It references a previous occasion when Caputo allegedly informed the parents of players during an inquiry about prior incidents of misbehavior, including attempts to break into a hotel room during a previous trip.

The complaint suggests that past team excursions saw members engaging in violent restraining practices against teammates, which appears to be tolerated within the program.

In light of these developments, the university released a statement acknowledging the lawsuit’s existence, emphasizing that they take community concerns seriously. However, given the ongoing nature of the litigation, they stated they cannot comment on the specific allegations.