John Doe Appeals Cornell Ruling Over Attempted Sexual Exploitation Finding After 12-Day Hearing
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
John Doe Appeals Cornell Ruling Over Attempted Sexual Exploitation Finding After 12-Day Hearing
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
Summary
Sept. 25 brought a new turn in the Cornell case: John Doe filed an appeal after a judge dismissed his bid to void school discipline and erase references to the allegation from his academic record.
Court records show Cornell found him responsible not for sexual assault, but for attempted sexual exploitation after a 12-day evidentiary hearing tied to a 2024 Title IX investigation.
His lawsuit argues the university failed to give adequate notice of that charge; his lawyer said Cornell "moved the goal posts" and denied him a fair chance to defend himself.
The finding stemmed from his going to the room after seeing a Snapchat group message, part of a stream of crude posts by Chi Phi members about the woman and the sexual activity there.
The appeal unfolds as a broader civil suit accuses seven Chi Phi members of assault and Tompkins County's district attorney has reopened the criminal inquiry, though no charges were previously filed.