RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
A 19-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a fraternity operating near the University of Chicago in the United States, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by one of its members during a party earlier this year.
The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe to protect her identity, filed the civil action on Monday, October 19, at the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois.
The lawsuit names Alpha Delta Phi Inc. and the Chicago Society of Alpha Delta Phi as defendants, seeking damages exceeding $200,000, legal costs and a jury trial.
According to the complaint, the alleged assault occurred on February 7, 2026, after Doe attended a party at the fraternity house with friends.
She claimed that a fraternity member offered her a shot of alcohol, after which she became unusually dizzy and physically unsteady.
Doe alleged that the man subsequently led her to a secluded bedroom, where he sexually assaulted her despite her inability to give consent.
She also expressed suspicion that her drink might have been tampered with, although this allegation has not been independently established.
The lawsuit further alleges that the man left her unconscious after the encounter and that other fraternity members initially prevented her friend from going upstairs to find her.
Her friend eventually located her and assisted her out of the building, according to the complaint.
The following morning, Doe sought medical treatment and reported the alleged assault to the Chicago Police Department.
Police confirmed that a 19-year-old woman reported a sexual assault connected to the fraternity house and received medical attention on February 8.
Authorities said investigations into the incident remained ongoing.
The University of Chicago described the allegations as disturbing and expressed readiness to cooperate with police investigators.
Although the institution does not officially recognise fraternities as student organisations, it maintained that preventing sexual assault and protecting members of its community remained important priorities.
The university was named as a respondent in discovery, meaning it could be required to provide relevant information during the legal proceedings, but it is not currently a defendant.
Meanwhile, Alpha Delta Phi’s national organisation confirmed that it had suspended the member involved in the allegations.
The organisation described the reported conduct as inconsistent with its values and pledged cooperation with relevant authorities.
Doe’s legal representatives said the lawsuit was intended to pursue accountability and encourage improved safeguards against sexual misconduct at fraternity events.
The case follows a separate sexual assault allegation involving the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity near the same university earlier in October.
Chicago police confirmed that no arrests had been made in either case as investigations continued.
The allegations remain unproven, and the filing of the lawsuit does not constitute a finding of criminal or civil liability.
