Cornell Student Seeks Gag Order Against Accuser's Lawyer
WHO:
ABC News - Diego Sarabia, a Cornell University student, is named in a civil lawsuit.
ABC News - Jane Doe, a former Cornell University student, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit.
ABC News - Thomas Giuffra is the attorney representing Jane Doe.
ABC News - James Knox is the attorney representing Diego Sarabia.
ABC News - Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond is presiding over the case.
WHAT:
ABC News - Sarabia's attorneys claimed that Jane Doe's counsel has been "trying his case in the media since filing the lawsuit," alleging that this could influence potential jurors.
ABC News - Giuffra stated in response to the motion that the defense has engaged in "a wholesale leaking of confidential documents" and has attempted to undermine Jane Doe's story without success.
ABC News - Sarabia's lawyers are seeking a gag order to prevent public comments about the case.
ABC News - The lawsuit alleges that Jane Doe was raped by a group of men at the Chi Phi fraternity house.
ABC News - Sarabia is accused of grabbing and kissing Jane Doe and pouring lines of Ketamine on her body.
ABC News - No criminal charges have been filed, but an investigation by the New York attorney general is ongoing.
ABC News - The judge agreed to seal some filings in the case due to threats and harassment faced by a Marine Corps member with the same name as one of the defendants.
WHERE:
ABC News - The incident allegedly occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University.
ABC News - The case is being heard in a New York court.
WHEN:
ABC News - Jane Doe made a complaint to campus police in November 2024, three weeks after the incident.
ABC News - The gag order motion was filed on a Monday, with no specific date provided.
WHY:
ABC News - Sarabia's attorney, James Knox, argued that a gag order would prevent "possible juror prejudice" and protect sensitive information from being released.
ABC News - Sarabia's lawyers argue that public comments could taint potential jurors and lead to threats and intimidation.
ABC News - Giuffra claims the defense is attempting to silence him and Jane Doe due to their success in rebutting the defense's claims.
HOW:
ABC News - The judge condemned the acts of threats and doxing as "brash, reckless, and ultimately dangerous internet vigilantism," emphasizing the importance of due process.
ABC News - Sarabia's attorneys requested "narrowly tailored restrictions" on public comments regarding the case.
ABC News - The judge condemned acts of threats and doxing as "brash, reckless, and ultimately dangerous internet vigilantism."
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 02:21 UTC)
Sarabia's attorneys have accused Jane Doe's counsel of trying the case in the media, claiming this could sway potential jurors. In response, Giuffra, representing the defense, argued that they have faced a "wholesale leaking of confidential documents" aimed at undermining Jane Doe's credibility. The judge condemned the threats and doxing associated with the case as "brash, reckless, and ultimately dangerous internet vigilantism," highlighting the critical need for due process.
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(UPDATED October 13, 2026 01:36 UTC)
Diego Sarabia, a student at Cornell University, has been named in a civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, a former student, who alleges that she was raped by a group of men at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Sarabia's attorneys are seeking a gag order to limit public comments about the case, arguing that such comments could influence potential jurors and lead to threats against individuals involved, while the judge has condemned the threats and doxing as dangerous. The case is currently being heard in a New York court, with Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond presiding over the proceedings.