Your Past Can Follow You: What a UW Fraternity Lawsuit Means for Accused Students

By Jocelyn C. Stewart

A former University of Washington student is suing the university and a former fraternity member. She alleges UW failed to protect her from a student whose history it should have taken seriously. Her lawyers lean on a July Washington Supreme Court ruling. If that theory holds, accused students should expect schools to act sooner and dig deeper.

The lawsuit. According to The Seattle Times and KUOW, she alleges that in November 2022 a Pi Kappa Phi member served her excessive alcohol at a fraternity event and then raped her while she was unconscious. Both outlets, like FOX 13 Seattle, report that he pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in 2024. The claims against UW are allegations. The same reports put the civil trial in fall 2027.

ABC News has also reported on the lawsuit, which accuses the university of negligence.

The history at issue. The Seattle Times and KUOW both report that about two years earlier, a neighbor sought a temporary sexual assault protection order alleging he exposed himself to her, and the petition was dropped that same month. The suit says UW knew about a restraining order. UW disputes that. As FOX 13 and KUOW report, UW says the order was no longer in effect when either student enrolled and that it knew of no active order.

What UW did. UW says it opened an investigation and a disciplinary proceeding after the assault, and the student was permanently withdrawn and can never re-enroll, according to all three outlets.

Why it matters if you are accused. The Seattle Times and FOX 13 both report that the suit relies on the court's ruling in a Washington State University hazing death. A school worried about being sued for what it knew moves faster: interim restrictions, emergency suspensions, and a hard look at old reports. Washington rules already let UW weigh a student's prior conduct.

Topics: Sexual Assault & Misconduct Allegations · Hazing & Homicide