Cornell University student named in Jane Doe's civil suit seeks to be dropped from case

Key Points:

• Diego Sarabia, a Cornell student named in a civil lawsuit alleging involvement in a 2024 gang rape, has filed a motion to be dismissed from the suit, arguing he was only accused of an unwanted kiss and was not involved in the more severe conduct described.
• Sarabia's attorney contends the lawsuit was filed nearly two years after the alleged events, exceeding the one-year statute of limitations for such claims, and notes Sarabia was not alleged to have supplied drugs or participated in the sexual encounters.
• All seven fraternity brothers named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing, and a recent request by Sarabia's attorney for a gag order was rejected by a judge, who called the request a distraction from the case's merits.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James, appointed as special prosecutor, is investigating the incident, while Cornell University is conducting its own internal review and has expressed strong commitment to addressing sexual violence and improving campus safety.