A former president of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity has been dropped from Jane Doe’s civil lawsuit after he was mistakenly identified as the chapter president at the time she was allegedly gang raped by seven members of the fraternity.
Orazio Petito was removed from the lawsuit on Tuesday, October 20, after it was determined he was not in charge of the fraternity at the time the alleged incident took place in October 2024, according to ABC News. Petito was never accused of taking part in the alleged assault.
“It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel for all parties that this matter is discontinued with prejudice as to Orazio Petito,” a new court filing said, per the outlet. “Furthermore, the plaintiff holds Mr. Petito, his counsel, harmless from any liens that are known and/or unknown at this time.”
Petito’s attorney, Eric Bernstein, did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the update in the case.
Doe’s attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, told Us that they were told Petito was the president at the time and he was dropped from the lawsuit once they were provided with proof that he was not.
The victim, who is only known by her alias, filed the lawsuit in September, in which she claimed the assault took place at the frat house in Ithaca, New York, when she was 20. She said she was intoxicated when she went to the frat house to see a friend on the night of October 19, 2024, where she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by two of the fraternity brothers.
Doe went on to claim that she was sexually assaulted several times by multiple members of the fraternity, and the men even sent a message in their group chat saying that there was “free p****” upstairs.
She reported the abuse three weeks later and eventually dropped out of school. The university conducted an investigation, which led to only two of the seven fraternity brothers being expelled from Cornell. Meanwhile, the others received less severe punishments and none of them were criminally charged.
Attorneys for the accused fraternity brothers have denied involvement in the alleged attack.
After Doe filed the civil complaint, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced that his office was reopening an investigation into the allegations.
The new update in the case was revealed one week after Cornell University’s President Michael Kotlikoff reflected on the case while speaking to The New York Times on Wednesday, October 14. During the interview, Kotlikoff explained that he became aware of the incident shortly after the accuser first came forward with her allegations in November 2024.
He then admitted that he did not follow up with Doe after she reported the assault, as well as did not speak to any of the men she accused.
“The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for,” he said. “And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred.”
Cornell has also expressed its support for the investigation being reopened.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
