Opinion ID: 151784
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Background (1).Underlying Events and Commencement of the Action

Text: The Gerenas commenced this action in New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, on April 24, 2007. They are seeking damages arising out of an incident that occurred in August 2005, at the beginning of Alexandra and Korb's sophomore year of college at Yale. According to the complaint filed by Alexandra and her mother, Korb sexually and physically assaulted Alexandra in her dorm room after a Yale-sponsored back-to-school social event. Defendant Yale allegedly did little to prevent this assault or other similar assaults and did not punish offenders adequately. As a result, Alexandra and her mother are asserting claims of intentional conduct against Korb and negligence, willful misconduct and recklessness against Yale. The Gerenas claim that shortly after their state complaint was filed, but before service, Yale sent one of its employees to obtain a copy of the state court summons and complaint; Yale disputes whether this occurred and the significance of it. In any event, on May 22, 2007, Yale removed the action to the Southern District of New York on diversity grounds, where it was assigned to Judge Sand. At that point, neither Yale nor Korb had been served with the complaint in the state action, although both obviously were aware of the action, given that Yale had effectuated removal with Korb's consent. The 120-day federal time limit for service of process therefore began to run on May 22, 2007 and expired on September 19, 2007. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m).