Doe, who was 20 years old at the time, alleges she visited a friend at the Xi chapter of Chi Phi while intoxicated. According to the lawsuit, two fraternity members pressured her into snorting a substance they identified as ketamine. The complaint states that after she was incapacitated, a man sent a message to the fraternity’s Snapchat group chat suggesting a woman was available for sex. Doe alleges that additional men arrived and that she was sexually assaulted for several hours.
The lawsuit highlights a disparity in the disciplinary actions taken by the university. Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, stated that while Cornell conducted an internal investigation involving at least 12 hearings, only two of the seven accused were expelled. The remaining individuals received lesser sanctions, which the complaint describes as including suspensions, mandatory workshops, or the submission of essays. Giuffra asserted that no criminal charges were filed against any of the accused, noting, “Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact.”
The Tompkins County District Attorney’s office confirmed that it conducted a thorough review of the police investigation but determined there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges. Doe reported the incident to the university police department approximately three weeks after the alleged assault. In response to the civil suit, Cornell University released a statement confirming that its investigation has concluded. The university emphasized that it is a private institution and is generally not subject to state or federal public records laws, though it is obligated to share certain records with New York State regarding public funding.
Cornell’s statement, issued by Vice President for University Relations Kyle Kimball, declined to disclose specific disciplinary outcomes for individual students, citing federal privacy laws. “Violations of university policies could lead to sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion,” the statement read. The university added that it would respond in detail through the legal process. The Xi chapter of Chi Phi remains barred from campus as a result of the incident.
The lawsuit names seven defendants: Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar. University records list Lee and Lopes as current students in the College of Arts and Sciences, while Sarabia is listed as an alumnus. The academic status of Ingalls, Newell, Norris, and Kretzschmar could not be independently confirmed, as their directories list their colleges as “not applicable.”
In the background of the lawsuit, Cornell points to the Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault, which was launched in Spring 2025 following the incident. The task force issued a report in March 2026 with recommendations to combat sexual assault, including improving sexual violence prevention websites, developing “sexual citizenship” courses, and expanding physical safety measures. These recommendations were informed by the 2025 Cornell Survey on Sexual Assault and Related Misconduct, which indicated a campuswide increase in reports of sexual assault and misconduct. The university stated that several of these recommendations have already been implemented, while others are currently under development.
The case is now pending in federal court, where the plaintiff seeks civil remedies for the alleged negligence of the university and the direct actions of the fraternity members. Cornell has stated it will address the specific claims and disciplinary history through the ongoing litigation.
