An attorney for a former Cornell University student filed a lawsuit against the university and seven former fraternity members, alleging the student was raped while incapable of consent due to intoxication and drug use. Thomas Giuffra, the attorney for the woman identified as Jane Doe, stated that his client was \"completely, grossly intoxicated\" upon arriving at a fraternity house in October 2024. The lawsuit claims she was pressured to take ketamine, leaving her unable to resist or stop the events.
The lawsuit follows a Title IX investigation conducted by Cornell University, which the university described in a statement as \"thorough.\" However, Giuffra alleged the university and its police department prioritized their reputation and revenue over a proper investigation. He stated that investigators failed to interview witnesses from a fraternity group chat or secure electronic evidence when it was fresh. Cornell University said it supports the decision by the Tompkins County district attorney to reopen the case.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul characterized the handling of the case by university police and the district attorney as a \"failure,\" noting that a full transcript was not initially shared with prosecutors. In October 2026, Governor Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor. Legal counsel for three of the seven accused men have denied the allegations of wrongdoing, while others have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The scale of the legal proceedings involves a 101-page civil complaint and a new criminal investigation led by the state’s Attorney General. While the specific monetary damages sought were not reported, the lawsuit targets seven former students and a university that Giuffra described as a major revenue source for Tompkins County. Students may notice changes in how campus security is managed or how the university responds to fraternity-related incidents as the special prosecutor begins her review of the 2024 events.
The case also addresses the role of digital communication in modern legal evidence, as the lawsuit relies on a Snapchat group chat sent to over 50 people. The appointment of a special prosecutor by the Governor shifts the authority from local county officials to the state level. Attorney General Letitia James is now tasked with reviewing the evidence, including testimony and transcripts from the internal university probe. A trial date for the civil lawsuit has not been reported, and the criminal investigation remains ongoing.