Cornell Fraternity Member Asks Court to Dismiss Him From Assault Suit
WHO:
News Times - Attorney James Knox represented the defendant seeking dismissal.
TMZ - The defendant seeking dismissal is Diego Sarabia, one of the accused Cornell 7.
CNN - Sigma Phi Epsilon CEO Brian Warren said the memberships of the two men accused in the University of Arizona case were suspended.
CNN - University of Arizona official Whitney Mohr said Sigma Phi Epsilon had been on probation over hazing allegations.
NBC News - A man sued by a former Cornell University student identified as Jane Doe asked a judge to dismiss the claims against him.
ABC News - A Cornell student named in a civil lawsuit by a former undergraduate student identified as Jane Doe asked to be dropped from the case.
WHAT:
News Times - Knox characterized the lawsuit as “essentially a lawsuit about an allegedly forced kiss.”
TMZ - Sarabia’s attorneys argued the claims against him amount to a “forced kiss” and denied the allegations.
CNN - The University of Arizona crime log documented at least 15 reports of rape or sexual assault since August 26; three reports were listed for October 18 and 20.
CNN - Administrators suspended Sigma Phi Epsilon from activities and prohibited members from contacting alleged victims or their families. Warren said the organization would cooperate with law enforcement and expel any member found responsible.
CNN - A search-warrant account described a woman waking in a fraternity house while two men took turns having sex with her; she later reported a throat bruise and difficulty swallowing.
CNN - The woman’s sexual-assault examination documented bloody discharge and spots in her mouth from broken blood vessels. One man later said he was drunk, his memory was “fuzzy,” and he had had sex with her; he claimed she agreed.
CNN - The Pima County Attorney’s Office said the case had not been referred for prosecution; CNN reported no indication of arrests.
NBC News - The man sought dismissal of the claims against him in Jane Doe’s sexual-assault lawsuit.
ABC News - The student sought to be removed from Jane Doe’s civil suit.
WHERE:
NBC News - The case involves Cornell University.
ABC News - The case involves a Cornell student.
WHEN:
CNN - The alleged University of Arizona assault was reported as occurring on or about August 26; the university issued Sigma Phi Epsilon’s interim suspension on October 21.
CNN - Sigma Phi Epsilon was on probation through May 2027 over hazing allegations involving sleep deprivation, calisthenics, forced alcohol consumption and kidnapping during the fall 2025 semester.
WHY:
CNN - The university cited reports that Sigma Phi Epsilon allegedly provided alcohol to minors and created a dangerous environment on or about August 26 and September 29 as reasons for its interim suspension.
NBC News - The man argued that Jane Doe’s allegations do not support her broader accusations of rape and sexual assault.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 01:29 UTC)
Two men accused of sexual assault at the University of Arizona have had their Sigma Phi Epsilon memberships suspended, and the university has barred the fraternity from activities. The school cited reports of alcohol being provided to minors and a dangerous environment; the chapter was already on probation over hazing allegations. A search-warrant account describes a woman waking at the fraternity house as two men took turns having sex with her. She later reported a throat bruise and difficulty swallowing, and an examination documented bloody discharge and injuries in her mouth. One man said he was drunk, had a fuzzy memory, and believed she had agreed. The county attorney’s office says the case has not been referred for prosecution, and there is no indication of arrests.
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(UPDATED October 25, 2026 19:59 UTC)
Two men accused in a reported sexual assault at the University of Arizona have had their Sigma Phi Epsilon memberships suspended, and the university has barred the fraternity from activities. Officials cited allegations that the chapter provided alcohol to minors and created a dangerous environment. The fraternity was already on probation over hazing claims, and its CEO said the organization would cooperate with law enforcement and expel anyone found responsible. A woman told investigators she woke in the fraternity house as two men took turns having sex with her; medical records documented injuries, while one man said he was drunk, had a fuzzy memory and believed she agreed. The county attorney’s office says the case has not been referred for prosecution, and there is no indication of arrests.
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(UPDATED October 25, 2026 19:03 UTC)
A man named in a former Cornell University student’s sexual-assault lawsuit is asking a judge to dismiss the claims against him. The plaintiff is identified in court as Jane Doe, and her suit includes accusations of rape and sexual assault. The man argues that the allegations do not support those broader claims. A Cornell student named in the same civil case has also asked to be removed from it. The case involves allegations by a former undergraduate student, though the details provided do not specify the student’s relationship to the man or the basis for the request to leave the case. The judge has not been reported as ruling on either request. The requests seek to narrow or end claims in the lawsuit, but the case remains unresolved.