Nearly 18 months after tumbling down the steps of Whig Hall after an altercation with Department of Public Safety head Kenneth Strother during Princeton’s ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment,’ David Piegaro ’25 is suing Princeton University and the department chief over the incident.
In a civil complaint filed July 30, Piegaro alleged that Strother “physically assaulted” him during the incident, that the University’s subsequent internal investigation was a “sham,” and that the PSafe head made false claims during the months-long criminal case against Piegaro.
Piegaro and his attorneys are requesting a jury trial, seeking unspecified damages, expungement of Piegaro’s disciplinary violations from his school records, and a declaration that the University violated Piegaro’s rights. Piegaro has previously expressed his desire for an apology from the University.
The lawsuit stems from an April 2024 incident where Piegaro claimed to be acting as a “citizen journalist” documenting the occupation of Clio Hall, referred to in the complaint as an “unrestrained pro-Hamas demonstration.” Piegaro attempted to record a conversation between Strother and two professors involved in the pro-Palestine protests and followed the three men up the stairs of Whig Hall, adjacent to the building where 13 students had been arrested.
What happened next was the focal point of several trial days in February and April, where Piegaro was facing trespassing and assault charges. Piegaro claims that Strother attempted to block his exit into Whig, raised his arm, and pushed him down the stairs. The prosecution, however, maintained that Piegaro had attempted to grab Strother’s arm and had fallen.
Piegaro’s trespassing charge was dropped in February, and he was eventually found not guilty of simple assault in April.
His current lawsuit claims that Princeton and Strother “made up” an excuse for Strother’s “abhorrent conduct,” describing Strother’s actions during the incident as “inexplicable” and “violent.”
“Princeton’s actions smack of retaliation and were blatant attempts to discourage Piegaro from pursuing charges or filing a civil complaint against Chief Strother,” it reads.
The University has vowed to fight the lawsuit.
“The University believes the complaint to be entirely without merit and plans to mount a vigorous defense. We look forward to a fair trial and expect our position to be fully vindicated,” spokesperson Jennifer Morrill said in a statement.
The case of Piegaro, a Jewish transfer student who served in the Army and the National Guard, has garnered national attention. He was profiled in The New York Times in April, and his lawsuit against Princeton was first reported in The Free Press, a publication that often weighs in on campus protests alongside national coverage.
Piegaro’s attorneys for the lawsuit are Andrew Schwartz and Andrew C. Bernstein of Kasowitz LLP. Kasowitz has filed antisemitism lawsuits against Harvard University, New York University, and Barnard College. All three lawsuits have been settled.
Piegaro and his attorneys did not reply for comment in time for publication.
Cynthia Torres is an associate News editor and an Archives contributor. She is from New Bedford, Mass. and typically covers University administration.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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