SEATTLE, Wash. — A woman who was raped at a University of Washington fraternity house in 2022 is suing the university and the man convicted of raping her, alleging UW failed to protect her, despite knowing he had previously been the subject of a restraining order involving alleged sexual misconduct.
The woman, identified in court documents as A.P., is a UW sorority member, according to her attorneys. Her lawsuit against the university and Wyatt Ohara was filed in King County Superior Court last year.
The lawsuit alleges UW knew about a temporary civil restraining order involving Ohara and another woman before A.P. was raped, but failed to adequately regulate, monitor, or restrict him to protect other students.
UW disputes the significance of that allegation.
In a statement to KIRO 7, UW said court records show the temporary civil restraining order was issued before Ohara and the other woman enrolled at UW and was no longer in effect by the time they began attending the university.
“The University was not aware of any active court-approved restraining or protective orders in effect against the respondent student when he was admitted or when he enrolled,” UW spokesperson Victor Balta said.
According to the lawsuit, the earlier order had been obtained by another woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 2. A.P.’s attorneys say the order prohibited Ohara from attending the same parties as that woman.
2022 assault
According to the lawsuit, A.P. attended events associated with Pi Kappa Phi on Nov. 19, 2022. The lawsuit alleges Ohara provided A.P. with excessive amounts of alcohol before taking her to the fraternity house and sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious.
Court records show Ohara was convicted of rape in 2024.
UW told KIRO 7 that, after the assault, the university launched an investigation and student disciplinary proceeding. UW says Ohara was permanently withdrawn from the university and cannot re-enroll.
“Police also investigated, the individual was prosecuted and served jail time,” UW spokesperson Victor Balta said.
The university said preventing sexual assault remains a top priority and that it continually evaluates its prevention, support, and response efforts.
Fraternity responds
The national Pi Kappa Phi organization told KIRO 7 Ohara was an associate member who had never been initiated.
“This matter involved one individual who was an associate (not initiated) member,” Pi Kappa Phi fraternity said in a statement. “Upon learning of the allegation, the chapter immediately terminated the individual’s associate membership and removed him from the chapter facility. He was never initiated into the fraternity.”
Pi Kappa Phi said it “unequivocally condemns sexual assault” and remains committed to standards of “conduct, respect and accountability.”
UW told KIRO 7 that fraternities are independent organizations that make their own decisions about membership.
UW students react
On UW’s campus Tuesday, KIRO 7 asked students about the allegations and how conversations about sexual assault translate into practice.
“I feel like, I would, personally, be uncomfortable being in a situation like that and not knowing that I was in a room with someone who had done that,” UW student Chelsea told KIRO 7.
Another student, Lincoln, said he believes fraternities should have the information necessary to make informed decisions about prospective members.
“Hopefully, that’s information that the UW passes along to the frat, so the frats can make an educated decision, too,” Lincoln said. “I do believe in second chances, but I think those should be educated second chances.”
Chelsea told KIRO 7 that she believes conversations about sexual assault can fade after individual cases are no longer receiving attention.
“It’s like they talk about it when it’s in the headlines, specifically, and then they kind of don’t talk about it again,” Chelsea said. “Resources aren’t usually readily available or pushed to students, and then a lot of times cases will come and go and we’ll hear about them, but then just life goes back to normal.”
A.P.’s attorneys say the lawsuit is intended not only to seek accountability for what happened to her, but also to raise broader questions about universities’ responsibilities to protect students in Greek life.
“This lawsuit is about making change, and any survivor who is ready to share their story deserves to be heard and supported,” attorney Steve Berman said in the firm’s news release.