A former Cornell University student is suing the university, several Greek organizations, a downtown Ithaca bar and seven former students over an alleged sexual assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
The 101-page lawsuit was filed Sept. 14 in state Supreme Court in New York County. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi members after a night that began at a Tri Delta social event in downtown Ithaca.
The lawsuit names Cornell University, Chi Phi’s local and national organizations, Tri Delta’s local and national organizations, Moonies Bar & Nightclub and several individuals as defendants. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial.
The seven men accused of participating in sexual misconduct are Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. The lawsuit says all were Cornell students and Chi Phi members at the time.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the complaint reflects the plaintiff’s account of what happened.
Lawsuit says night began at Tri Delta event
Doe was 20 years old at the time and living at the Alpha Beta Chapter of Tri Delta, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit says she drank vodka at the sorority house before taking an Uber to Moonies Bar & Nightclub around 8:30 p.m. with the chapter’s house mother.
At Moonies, a bouncer allegedly marked both of Doe’s hands with an “X” to show she was under 21. The lawsuit says she was nevertheless served at least one alcoholic drink.
Doe later went to Lot 10 Bar and Lounge before leaving alone around 11 p.m. and heading to the Chi Phi house at 107 Edgemoor Lane to meet Ingalls, whom the lawsuit describes as her friend.
The complaint says Doe was visibly intoxicated when she arrived. It alleges Ingalls gave her a beer and later took her upstairs, where he and Newell pressured her to use what they said was ketamine, along with marijuana and high-proof liquor.
The lawsuit alleges sexual assaults then followed involving several fraternity members.
One of the complaint’s central pieces of evidence is a photo of an alleged “Chi Phi Actives” Snapchat conversation. Attorneys say Newell posted a sexually explicit message in the fraternity group around 1:42 a.m. referring to Doe being upstairs.
The complaint alleges other fraternity members then entered the room and that additional sexual assaults and drug use occurred.
Doe was eventually moved into another room with Ingalls and Lee, according to the lawsuit. Attorneys allege she was fully incapacitated by that point and was assaulted until about 5:45 a.m., when she lost consciousness.
Cornell investigation followed
The lawsuit says Doe returned to the Tri Delta house later Oct. 20 and noticed bruising.
She reported the incident to Cornell University Police on or about Nov. 8, 2024. The complaint says Chi Phi was temporarily suspended that day, along with several students named in the lawsuit.
Cornell later issued a public statement acknowledging an investigation into what it called “serious and deeply disturbing allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house.”
Doe also filed a formal Title IX complaint. The lawsuit says Cornell opened an investigation in January 2025 and held at least 12 hearings that May.
The complaint says Cornell’s Title IX investigation has concluded and that the matter remained under investigation by the Ithaca Police Department when the lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit does not identify any criminal convictions connected to the allegations.
Cornell, Chi Phi and Tri Delta accused of negligence
The case goes beyond the conduct of the seven students.
Doe’s attorneys argue Cornell and Chi Phi failed to protect her from foreseeable harm and failed to adequately supervise activity at the fraternity house.
The lawsuit alleges Cornell knew about broader concerns involving sexual assault and drug use in Greek life before the 2024 incident. It also claims Cornell and Chi Phi knew or should have known of what the complaint describes as a ketamine culture at the fraternity house, including a drug-related police response about a week before the alleged assault.
Tri Delta’s local and national organizations are accused of failing to properly supervise Doe before she reached the fraternity house.
The complaint alleges the sorority’s house mother knew Doe was intoxicated but still accompanied her to Moonies, while designated sober monitors failed to intervene.
Moonies accused of serving underage student
Moonies is also facing negligence and Dram Shop Act claims.
The lawsuit alleges the bar served Doe alcohol despite the under-21 markings on her hands and continued serving her while she was visibly intoxicated.
Attorneys argue that contributed to her becoming incapacitated and vulnerable later that night.
Lawsuit seeks damages and jury trial
Doe is also accusing Cornell of breach of contract and violations of the New York State Human Rights Law, arguing the university failed to provide the safe educational environment it represented to students.
The seven student defendants face claims including sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
No specific dollar amount is listed in the complaint.
Doe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, legal costs and other relief the court finds appropriate. She has demanded a jury trial.
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