Mental health clinic sued over alleged sexual harassment by therapist on patient

A Philadelphia mental health clinic and one of its employees are facing a lawsuit by a patient who claims the therapist sexually assaulted the plaintiff while the woman was being treated for mental stress related to a rape incident.

In her lawsuit, filed May 29 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by New York attorney Stephen Eugene Mullkoff, Philadelphia resident Clara Rodriguez claims the John Doe employee at Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic sexually assaulted her after informing the plaintiff that he had “new techniques” to help her deal with the aftermath of her rape.

The defendant, identified only as Doe in the lawsuit, informed Rodriguez that his sexual actions were approved by Juniata and would help her in her healing process.

“Defendant Doe forced plaintiff to stand still while he kissed her, made her lift her skirt while he performed a physical exam, she was required to allow him to regularly measure her stomach, continually asking her to take him on a date, hugging and kissing her from behind, holding her hands behind her back and preventing her from leaving,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit contains a negligence count against the defendants, and specifically accuses the health clinic of failing to take the necessary actions to prevent the attack on the plaintiff.

The suit also contains counts of assault and false imprisonment.

The complaint states that as a result of the alleged sexual assault, Rodriguez experienced pain and suffering, severe emotional distress and harm, and financial or economic loss.

Rodriguez seeks $50,000 in compensatory damages, in addition to other equitable and legal relief.

An arbitration hearing has been set for early February 2013.

 

The case ID number is 120503330.