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Jury Awards $65 Million to Woman Sexually Assaulted By Nurse at Encino-Tarzana Medical Center
Photo by bloomsberries via Flickr
A jury has awarded a whopping $65 million to a woman who was sexually assaulted by a male nurse at a hospital that was then known as Encino-Tarzana Medical Center, according to City News Service.Courtney Rosenberg, who has come forward to tell her story and publicly revealed her identity, was sexually assaulted by a nursing assistant Ramon Rodas Gaspar while she was recovering from surgery in 2007. Gaspar has been profiled on America's Most Wanted in 2008 and 2009, but he still remains a fugitive.
On Tuesday, the jury found the hospital and its owner at the time Tenet Healthcare Corp. liable for negligence and sexual harassment. (The hospital is now called Providence Tarzana Medical Center.) It awarded Rosenberg $2.36 million in compensatory damages, but she said was blown away by the numbers today. "I never could have imagined this,'' she said. "I think I'm still in shock.''
The jury awarded Rosenberg a number even higher than her attorney asked for. Jury foreman Stephen Wystrach told City News Service said the jury believed that the hospital should have taken action against Gaspar when other female patients complained about him. The more the jury discussed the award, he said, the higher the number rose. The hospital's attorney said it plans to appeal the award.
For her part, Rosenberg said she plans to get behind legislation for greater protection of patients from hospital employees. She's far from the only one to have suffered at the hands of a hospital employee.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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