Both a mother and her daughter claim to have been sexually assaulted during separate appointments with a Newark-based neurosurgeon who is currently facing criminal charges based on allegations made by another patient. The mother and daughter have filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages, as reported by Delaware Online.
During separate examinations Dr. P.L., 84, allegedly spoke to both the mother, C.P., 48, and her daughter, A.B, 26, about their mental health before he told them to undress, walk in front of him and bend over.
While the women were bent over Dr. P. L. allegedly touched them in inappropriate areas of their body, seemingly unrelated to the treatment they were there to have.
Raeann Warner, the attorney representing both women, said, "They were going in for certain kinds of treatment for pain management or to check on a rash on a body part. It had nothing to do with their private areas. Immediately they knew it was inappropriate. They were shocked that it actually occurred when they were in a doctor's office, trusting the doctor to give them treatment, which they had come for."
The assault occurred in March of 2011 and the suit was filed in Kent County Superior Court in Dover. According to Warner, both women did not how to handle the incident so they did not report it to the police.
Dr. P.L.'s attorney, Joe Hurley, commented that his client has medical malpractice insurance, however, this type of claim is not covered. Hurley remarked that Dr. P.L.'s arrest have caused people to "come out of the woodwork to get their fair share or unfair share of what they think will be a pot of gold…"
Dr. P.L.'s arrest – also due to alleged inappropriate touching, - was made by a 35 year-old female patient. The victim claims that the sexual assault occurred on April 16. Dr. P.L. was initially charged on May 4, and was indicted in July on more charges.
While the Attorney General's Office and the Division of Professional Regulations conducted an investigation, six adults cam forward and filed separate complaints against Dr. P.L.
It is not the first time that Dr. P.L. has faced charges regarding sexual assaults. In 1993 he was convicted – after he plead no contest to two misdemeanor counts of unlawful sexual conduct – of molesting his 23 year-old business associate. In that case Dr. P.L. lost his license to practice medicine for six months and spent 2 ½ years on probation.
According to the spokesman for the state Division of Professional Regulation, Christopher Portante, on May 8 Dr. P.L. lost his license a second time as he was issued an emergency temporary suspension.
Dr. P.L. has been allowed by the state to postpone his hearing on the lawsuit, originally scheduled for August 8, so that his criminal case can be heard first. He is now scheduled to appear on the lawsuit in February 2013.
Pending a hearing, Dr. P.L.'s license will continue to be suspended.
A case of personal injury can be applied to many injurious acts. If someone has hurt you, contact a personal injury lawyer for help suing for your damages.