A former Cornell University student who says she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of a fraternity has filed a massive civil lawsuit against the university. The disturbing lawsuit includes seven current and former students, as well as several other organizations and individuals.
The shocking and graphic allegations have quickly drawn some major attention online, putting the Ivy League university and its Greek life culture under an intense (and negative) spotlight.
Additionally, nearly two years after the alleged October 2024 incident, prosecutors have reopened the criminal investigation.
The woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleges she was 20 years old when she went to Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house on Oct. 19, 2024, where she says she was given alcohol and drugs before being sexually assaulted over several hours.
The graphic lawsuit names former or current Cornell students Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. It also names Cornell University, Chi Phi fraternity entities, Delta Delta Delta sorority entities, Moonies Bar & Nightclub and others. The allegations have not been proven in court, and none of the seven men has been criminally charged.
The civil complaint alleges that while Doe was inside the fraternity house, a message was posted to a Chi Phi Snapchat group indicating that a woman was available for sex, texting “Free p*ssy.” Doe alleges additional fraternity members subsequently entered the room and sexually assaulted her.
Credit: New York Supreme CourtAccording to the lawsuit, Doe reported what happened to Cornell University Police several weeks later. Cornell then conducted its own disciplinary proceedings.
Doe’s attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, has said two of the accused students were expelled, while others received lesser sanctions. Cornell has declined to disclose individual disciplinary outcomes, citing federal student privacy laws, but said its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations under university policies.
The Chi Phi chapter remains barred from Cornell’s campus.
Giuffra told CBS News that after Doe initially went to university police, she was never interviewed by investigators from the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office or by investigators specially trained to interview sexual assault survivors.
“Once she was emotionally ready, she went to the University police and bravely shared what had occurred to her,” Giuffra told CBS News. “She went to the police because she believed that she was the victim of a crime.”
The case initially resulted in no criminal charges.
That changed Monday when Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten confirmed his office is reopening the investigation and intends to present the case to a grand jury.
Van Houten told ABC News his office wants to determine whether evidence exists today that prosecutors did not have when they reviewed the case in November 2024 and whether that evidence could support criminal charges.
The DA has also brought up differences between Doe’s original statement to Cornell police and the allegations contained in her new civil complaint. Van Houten said the original statement did not allege that she had unknowingly been drugged, forced into sexual activity or rendered physically helpless or unconscious.
Van Houten also acknowledged that his office did not independently investigate the allegations in 2024 and relied on the investigation conducted by Cornell University Police. Giuffra disputes the DA’s characterization of Doe’s original report and says police failed to adequately follow up with her. The two sides also disagree over a potentially large and important piece of evidence: the fraternity group chat cited in the lawsuit.
Van Houten told ABC News that his office was never provided the group chat. Giuffra maintains the messages were given to authorities in 2024 and called them a “critical piece of evidence.”
The grand jury will now have an opportunity to hear Doe’s testimony and consider new evidence before deciding whether there is sufficient evidence to indict any of the men.
At least some of the defendants have denied wrongdoing.
Jeremy Saland, an attorney representing Kretzschmar, told ABC News that his client “never sexually assaulted or even touched the plaintiff in any way” and said the defense looks forward to challenging Doe’s allegations in court.
Norris also denied participating in sexual activity or drug use. He acknowledged sending a Snapchat message cited in the lawsuit but said he was not present when the alleged misconduct occurred. Cornell said Monday that it supports the district attorney’s decision to allow Doe’s account to be presented to a criminal grand jury.
The civil lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, among other relief. The amount of damages sought is not specified.
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