From ABC News · ABC News · · 2m
Cornell assault defendant seeks gag order
Diego Sarabia's lawyers ask a judge to silence public comments about a civil lawsuit over an alleged 2024 fraternity sexual assault.
In brief
Diego Sarabia's lawyers ask a judge to silence public comments about a civil lawsuit over an alleged 2024 fraternity sexual assault. A defendant in a Cornell sexual assault civil case has asked a judge for a gag order to prevent lawyers and parties from commenting publicly, citing risks to jury fairness. Originally…
Defendant seeks to silence the case
Lawyers for Diego Sarabia asked a New York judge on Monday to impose a gag order preventing lawyers and parties from commenting publicly about the civil lawsuit.
The assault allegation at Cornell
A student identified as Jane Doe complained to campus police in November twenty twenty-four that she had been raped by a group of men at the Chi Phi fraternity house three weeks earlier.
Jane Doe filed a civil suit
She sued the men and Cornell University alleging she had been drugged and raped. No criminal charges have been filed, but an investigation by the New York attorney general is ongoing.
Defense argues for jury protection
James Knox, Sarabia's attorney, argued a gag order would limit possible juror prejudice and prevent release of sensitive information that could lead to threats, doxing, intimidation and extrajudicial contact.
Plaintiff's lawyer accused of media campaign
The motion alleged that Thomas Giuffra, Jane Doe's attorney, has been trying his case in the media since filing the lawsuit through widely disseminated statements presenting disputed allegations.
“Plaintiff's counsel has been trying his case in the media since filing the lawsuit.”
Giuffra fires back at defense
Giuffra said the defense has leaked confidential documents and called Doe's story into question. He accused them of attempting to silence him because his rebuttals have been successful.
“Truth always wins out.”
Sarabia's specific allegations
Sarabia is accused of grabbing and kissing Jane Doe before pouring lines of Ketamine all over her body and snorting them. He has denied wrongdoing and previously argued the interaction was consensual.
Judge condemns vigilante harassment
Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond sealed some filings after a Marine Corps member with the same name as a defendant faced death threats. She condemned what she called brash, reckless internet vigilantism.
“Our society has developed procedures and legal mechanisms over the course of centuries to ensure justice and due process are afforded to all.”
The main idea
A defendant in a Cornell sexual assault civil case has asked a judge for a gag order to prevent lawyers and parties from commenting publicly, citing risks to jury fairness.
