A civil case in a 2014 rape at a Johns Hopkins University fraternity house party has doubled in size. Almost a year after two men unaffiliated with the university were convicted and sentenced to prison, the two of the original defendants filed civil complaints of their own, both denying liability while also saying, "If I am held responsible, these other people should be, too." The rape happened in November 2014 at Sigma Alpha Epsilon's off-campus fraternity house. A year later, the 16-year-old victim filed a $5 million lawsuit against the frat and its nine remaining officers.

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A civil case in a 2014 rape at a Johns Hopkins University fraternity house party has doubled in size.Almost a year after two men unaffiliated with the university were convicted and sentenced to prison, the two of the original defendants filed civil complaints of their own, both denying liability while also saying, "If I am held responsible, these other people should be, too."The rape happened in November 2014 at Sigma Alpha Epsilon's off-campus fraternity house. A year later, the 16-year-old victim filed a $5 million lawsuit against the frat and its nine remaining officers.In the past three weeks, two of the defendants filed third-party complaints in Baltimore City Circuit Court, bringing in 22 remaining frat brothers and the victim's sister.Attorney Adam Ruther, who is not connected to the case, said this attempt to shift the burden of liability has an unusual element that all parents and students should pay attention to."So it's not automatic, it's not a given that you're going to be responsible for things that your fraternity brothers do, but it could certainly pose potential liability, and that by itself is a reason to be careful," Ruther said.According to the victim's attorney, John Amato, the move came after the national fraternity's insurance company, Lloyds of London, denied the Baltimore chapter's claim, saying, "When these horrific acts occur, the insurers and the national fraternities then disclaim coverage and leave these kids and their parents to fend for themselves."Some defendants have turned to homeowner's insurance to pay legal bills.Ruther said the new complaint is based in part on a recent Court of Appeals decision on adults who give alcohol to minors."If some of these individuals in this complaint were adults and gave alcohol to this young woman, and her intoxication contributed to her being in this unfortunate position, then there may be a valid claim under that new case, that those adults who gave that alcohol may have some liability," Ruther said.But Ruther said this doesn't necessarily mean the court will agree that these people should share the responsibility, which could add up to millions.Get the WBAL-TV News App