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A civil lawsuit filed this month in New York Supreme Court by Thomas Giuffra on behalf of our client accuses seven men who were Cornell University students in 2024 of sexually assaulting a fellow student at a fraternity house in Ithaca. The complaint also names Cornell University and a downtown Ithaca bar as defendants. The plaintiff is proceeding under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
The Tompkins County District Attorney’s office has confirmed that a criminal investigation into the same allegations did not result in charges against any of the seven men. One of the men, through his attorney, denies the allegations in full and says no finding of probable cause was ever made against him.
What the complaint alleges
According to the filing, the 20-year-old plaintiff was heavily intoxicated when she arrived at the fraternity house late on October 19, 2024. The complaint alleges she was given alcohol and drugs inside, taken upstairs, and sexually assaulted over a period of several hours by multiple men. One of the men sent a message to a fraternity group chat that drew others to the room. The complaint runs to more than 100 pages and includes a screenshot of that message.
The plaintiff said she left Cornell as a result. In a sworn statement asking the court to let her proceed anonymously, she described lasting effects on her health and fear of retaliation for filing.
She is seeking damages for sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Why a civil case, when prosecutors brought no charges
A criminal case and a civil case ask different questions and apply different standards.
A criminal case is brought by the government to seek criminal punishment for the defendant(s). The district attorney decides whether to bring it, and if it proceeds, the prosecutor must convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt; the highest standard the law imposes.
A civil case is brought by the person who was harmed, seeking compensation for damages. The burden of proof is lower in civil cases, meaning it must be more likely true than not—a standard the law calls a preponderance of the evidence.
For many survivors of sexual abuse, that is the difference between a case and no case at all.
On Seeking Justice
“Our firm has proceeded with many sexual abuse cases in which there was no criminal conviction. We remain skeptical of the investigation that took place, especially due to the egregious nature of this incident. However, just because there are no criminal charges does not mean my client has to accept it as the end of the story.”
The claims against Cornell
The complaint alleges Cornell knew or should have known about drug use at the fraternity and about risks of sexual violence within its Greek system, and that it failed to supervise the students or warn the plaintiff. It notes that police had responded to a drug-related incident at the same house shortly before the alleged assault.
Cornell suspended the chapter and the seven students in November 2024 and opened an investigation the following January, holding multiple hearings in May 2025. The investigation has concluded but did not disclose its findings. A university spokesperson declined to comment on the investigation.
Claims like these turn on what the institution knew and when. Incident reports, prior complaints, conduct records, and internal correspondence are usually where that question gets answered, and civil discovery is the mechanism that produces them.
The claim against the bar
The suit also names the bar that the plaintiff visited earlier that night, alleging staff served her alcohol while she was visibly intoxicated and while a hand marking identified her as under 21.
New York law allows a person injured by someone’s intoxication to bring a claim against a business that unlawfully sold that person alcohol. The rule has specific requirements about who can sue and what has to be shown.
Filing without being named publicly
The plaintiff has asked the court to let her proceed under a pseudonym, Jane Doe. New York courts weigh a request like that against the public’s interest in open proceedings, and the practice is common in sexual assault cases.
Anonymity is one of the first questions survivors ask about, and something our firm takes very seriously when filing civil sexual abuse claims.
What this means for survivors considering a civil claim
You do not need a criminal conviction, a criminal charge, or a police report to bring a civil claim. While a criminal case can support a civil claim, it is not necessary to proceed with a civil case.
Survivors who are considering pursuing a civil case against one or more abusers should note that there are time limits to filing a case. While New York and New York City have both recognized that coming forward is complicated and can be a lengthy process, multiple pieces of legislation have passed in recent years to extend the timeframes that someone can bring a suit.
Seeking justice in civil courts sooner rather than later can make a difference when it comes to evidence preservation. Messages, photos, medical records, university conduct files, and the recollections of people who saw you that night are recoverable and become more difficult to obtain with time.
If you were assaulted at a school, a fraternity, or a venue that served you alcohol, a conversation with a lawyer clarifies what options you have and how long you have to take them.
