The 101-page lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, accuses seven fraternity members of participating in the assault while she was unable to consent. The suit also details how Cornell University and local prosecutors handled the case afterward.
The renewed attention pushed prosecutors to act. The Tompkins County District Attorney's Office said Monday it has reopened the investigation and plans to seek a grand jury.
For Doe, the lawsuit represents a second attempt at accountability after the case had apparently stalled once before. Now the seven accused fraternity members could face fresh legal scrutiny, and the university's and district attorney's original handling of the case is under a new spotlight.