According to a recent KTLA news story, an urgent care doctor at Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group has been arrested and now stands accused of sexually molesting a number of his female patients.  The doctor, Ramon Fawzi Fakhoury, 35, has only been in practice in California since 2003.  The alleged assaults reportedly took place in June and July of this year.   One of the alleged victims is a 32-year-old woman who was treated by Fakhoury for chest pain in July. Two days after she was seen, the alleged victim reported to police that Fakhoury sexually assaulted her during the exam.  Fakhoury is now facing eight felony charges, and the Attorney General's office has filed a formal Accusation against him with the California Medical Board, claiming professional misconduct involving at least four patients.  Authorities say there may be additional victims.

See the KTLA news story HERE.   You can also review the documents filed with the Medical Board HERE.

The information on the Medical Board's website indicates Fakhoury is a graduate of a Caribbean medical school who has only been licensed as a physician for eight years.  It does not appear he had any history of discipline as of the time he reportedly molested at least four patients while working at the Loma Linda urgent care facility.  However, it is unknown what history of similar incidents may have been reported to other employers or medical groups with whom Fakhoury worked in the past.  According to the Medical Board's investigation, Fakhoury only worked at the Loma Linda urgent care for two months, between June and July of this year.  The Medical Board's website lists Fakhoury as practicing in family medicine, with no apparent board certification.  Assuming the truth of the allegations against him, Fakhoury could be facing considerable civil and criminal responsibility for the sexual assaults.  It remains to be seen whether Loma Linda University was negligent in hiring, training and/or supervising Fakhoury so as to cause or contribute to the happening of these incidents.

Compensation for victims of sexual assault perpetrated by a physician should be an important concern for all Californians. When a doctor molests a patient and causes them physical and/or emotion harm, they should be held accountable. An Orange County medical malpractice lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has over 20 years of experience handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been the victim of a sexual assault at the hands of a doctor?

Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

Last week a  55-year-old registered sex offender was arrested for molesting a teen co-worker after allegedly getting the teen intoxicated on  vodka and perhaps a "date rape" drug.  According to an article in the Press Enterprise, the incident took place at the Murrieta weight-loss business where they both worked.  William Thomas James, of Murrieta, was arrested on September 10th for a number of sex crimes, including a felony, and has since pleaded not guilty.  James' previous conviction in a 1996 incident reportedly involved similar circumstances.

 According to the Enterprise story, neither hte teen victim nor the weight-loss clinic management knew of James' past crime.  See the full Press Enterprise story HERE.

Assuming the truth of the allegations against James, under California law there is no doubt such conduct would be criminal.  An adult cannot engage in sexual behavior with anyone under 18 years of age nor can anyone consent to sexual contact if they are intoxicated and therefore incapable of giving valid consent.  In addition to criminal culpability, there is the issue of civil responsibility for the harm caused under these circumstances.  Again, assuming the allegations in the case above can be proven, James would obviously be liable for the injuries and damages caused.  Additionally, the weight-loss business at which they both worked may well have exposure to civil liability for not taking reasonable steps to protect their employees from harm.  For example, a business owner may be subjected to tort liability when they fail to take reasonable steps in ensuring the qualifications of employees they hire.  Here, James' criminal history is a matter of public record and prospective employers should at least do a reasonably good job in investigating a potential employee's background, to ensure the safety of their own employees and perhaps even patrons coming into the business.  Unfortunately, stories like the one above are all too common and sexual predators, absent an appropriate background check, find access to particularly vulnerable victims.

Compensation for victims of sexual abuse and harassment committed in the workplace should be an important concern for all Californians. When an employee takes advantage and victimizes a co-worker, the perpetrator and the responsible employer should be held accountable, and their victims should be compensated.  An Orange County injury attorney with experience at handling sexual harassment and abuse cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury and sexual misconduct cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been a victim of sexual harassment or abuse?

Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

A pastor of an Orange County church has been accused of molesting two boys, both of whom are just 11 years old.  According to a story in the Orange County Register, the pastor of the Laguna Hills church, Oscar Perez, was arrested last weekend, and bail has now been set at 1 million dollars.  Perez is facing four felony counts (two as to each boy) and, if convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Perez is accused of assaulting the boys at Perez' Lake Forest home, and apparently one of the alleged victims claims to have been abused during a sleepover.  According to court records cited by the Register, prosecutors accuse Perez of abusing one of the boys in July, and the other sometime between 2008 and September 2011.  Perez, identified as a bishop of the Old Catholic Church, rented space at an Episcopal church in Laguna Hills and celebrated Mass once a week, officials said. Spokesmen for the Episcopal and Roman Catholic dioceses said his church was not affiliated with them.  Authorities are asking anyone who believes they were a victim, or who has additional information on the case, to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.

See the Orange County Register story HERE.

It is not clear from the story above how Perez managed to arrange time alone with the boys and whether his church affiliation had anything to do with that.  In general, the possibility exists that pedophiles will use any position of authority to gain legitimate access to young boys in order to seduce the more susceptible ones into sexual activity.  Unfortunately sex abuse in this context is more common than accidental deaths and serious injuries combined.   It is well recognized that children engaged in organized group overnight activities are at risk of foreseeable sexual abuse.  It is certain that there exists in our society the constant possibility that persons suffering from a lack of proper mental balance or normal decency might subject young people to sexual molestation.  This fact is often illustrated by mass media accounts of crimes against children.  The general feeling of the public that this problem does exist in a threatening way has led to the conclusion by many courts of this State that those charged with the care of children are obligated to guard against sexual abuse.  Liability generally follows where the abuse is foreseeable.

Compensation for victims of sexual abuse and harassment committed by people in a position of authority should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an adult engages in sexual abuse of a child they should be held accountable, and their victims should be compensated.  An Orange County injury attorney with experience at handling sexual abuse cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and sexual misconduct cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been a victim of sexual misconduct?

• Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

The Orange County Register has reported that an anesthesiologist suspected of sexually abusing two female patients during surgeries at Placentia-Linda Hospital was arrested  a month after he resigned from the hospital's staff.  The doctor, Yashwant B. Giri, 58, is facing felony counts of sexual battery and penetration with a foreign object after being taken into custody as he drove away from his Cypress.  Citing official sources, the Register reported hospital employees apparently witnessed Giri sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in February 2009 and a 36-year-old woman on March 18th of this year.  Investigators allege that he sexually abused the woman during a medical procedure and the girl after a surgery while she was still under the influence of anesthesia.

See the Register story and photo HERE.

According to the California Medical Board website, Giri has been in practice in California since 2004, with no history of discipline.  He received his medical degree from a school in India in 1977, and practices primarily in anesthesiology.  He is apparently not board certified in any medical specialty.  Other than the incident in 2009, it would appear that the hospital administration at Placentia-Linda had no reason to suspect the doctor was a sexual predator.  However, it remains to be seen what investigation was done into the allegations from 2009 and what steps, if any, were taken to protect female patients from being victimized.  Ordinarily, an employer is not liable for the sexual abuse committed by their employees, unless they knew or had reason to know of a propensity to commit such acts.  Assuming the hospital administration failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the victimization of female patients at the hands of Giri, Placentia-Linda may be held liable for the harm the doctor caused.  Obviously, Dr. Giri would be individually liable for his own acts of sexual abuse, if the allegations prove to be true.

Compensation for victims of sexual abuse and harassment committed by physicians should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a doctor engages in sexual abuse they should be held accountable, and their victims should be compensated.  An Orange County malpractice attorney with experience at handling sexual abuse cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and sexual misconduct cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been a victim of sexual misconduct by a doctor?

• Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.