Woman sues ambulance company after sexual assault

[pdxnewsie]

http://www.katu.com/news/55222267.html

By Anna Song KATU News and KATU.com Staff

PORTLAND, Ore – A woman who was sexually assaulted by an ambulance company’s paramedic said the company took no action against the paramedic even after it received complaints about him.

She is suing American Medical Response for $5 million.

Royshekka Herring broke down Wednesday as a mental health expert told a jury about her trauma following her ordeal in an ambulance with paramedic Lannie Haszard.

“She can't get his eyes out of her head,“ said the expert.

 

[ffemt8978]

There's always more than one side to a story.

The company's attorney countered by questioning why they hadn't made their experiences more of an issue immediately after it happened.

“Isn't it true that at no time before Mr. Haszard’s arrest did you notify AMR Northwest or AMR Inc. of what happened to you in the ambulance?” said James Dumas, attorney for AMR.

“No,” said the witness.

I don't understand how a company can be held liable for not taking action against an employee before they were informed that the employee may or may not have done something wrong.

And let's not forget ... accusations DO NOT equate to guilt.

 

[Foxbat]

All say they would have told AMR that he had demonstrated sexually offensive behavior while they were his patients - if AMR had asked.

So they expect ambulance service to ask every patient if he/she had been assaulted by a medic?

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

I guess that is the nature of the beast, companies are held liable for the actions of its employees. If he has a record (which I would bet money he does) then AMR should definitely be sued.

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

All say they would have told AMR that he had demonstrated sexually offensive behavior while they were his patients - if AMR had asked.

So they expect ambulance service to ask every patient if he/she had been assaulted by a medic?

Lol, "thank you for choosing AMR as your emergency transport. So that we may serve all our patients to the fullest, please take time to fill out this comment card. Pay particular attention to item #5 'Have you been sexually assaulted by our medics? If yes, rate on a scale of 1 to 10 on how badly you were assaulted."

 

[triemal04]

Maybe you should try a)reading the article and applying some common sense to it, b)realizing that 1 single tiny brief news blurb does not equal the whole story, and c)think for yourselves.

Herring’s attorneys called to the stand four additional women – who weren’t involved in the criminal case - ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s.

Gosh, that would seem to indicate that whatever testimony they gave was not considered admissible for the criminal court, but ok with civil; maybe because they only came forth after the conviction and were being used as corroboration...the responses are even more funny when you consider that the women referenced in the article aren't even suing.

Herring only later learned those three other women had already complained to American Medical Response of similar assaults.

Oops...guess other people did complain without being prompted.

She arrived at Legacy Emanuel Hospital screaming and saying Haszard had stuck his hand down her underwear and fondled her.

Guess she didn't wait to be asked either.

For anybody who knows about this already or bothers to learn a bit more before running at the mouth, this case is nothing but a huge blackeye for EVERYONE involved in EMS. To sit and make jokes about it is beyond disgusting and pathetic.

Edit: My favorite part right here:

And let's not forget ... accusations DO NOT equate to guilt.

He's already been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for what he did to her and three other female patients.

There aren't even words for this.

 

[Pudge40]

I don't think that company is responsible at all. They were not informed by any of the accusers ( or so the article makes it seem). If they had no idea how can they take appropriate action? Sounds to me like a sue happy ambulance chaser of a lawyer trying to make a quick buck.

 

[triemal04]

I don't think that company is responsible at all. They were not informed by any of the accusers ( or so the article makes it seem). If they had no idea how can they take appropriate action? Sounds to me like a sue happy ambulance chaser of a lawyer trying to make a quick buck.

Maybe try learning a little more about this situation before you even attempt to comment on it; there's been plenty written, so it should be easy.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/woman_molested_by_paramedic_su.html
Has just a but more info than the initial post. And there's more out there if you really care. Doesn't actually prove that AMR was fully negligent, but shows a history of problems, and, at the very least, after reading will allow people to be at least semi-knowledgeable about the situation.

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

Wow Respectfully, maybe you should calm down. Lets not take everything so seriously.

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

Thanks for the post though. I read the article and its pretty shameful the way AMR acted. It definitely hurts EMS but I don't think it's as catastrophic as you are suggesting. I don't think it will sully the good name of EMS but it's a tough blow to AMR and they deserve to be sued.
But again, don't belittle people because they haven't found an entire article. Maybe you can just post the link next time and say "Hey guys, I found more info on the article. Let's discuss." Many times these threads that are started with snippets of news articles usually just serve to begin a discussion, not an indictment. In fact, there have been a few stories where I can only find summaries or snippets of news stories. That's the nature of modern news reporting I guess. ^_^

 

[triemal04]

No, not catastrophic, but it is as far from good press as you can get, and does nothing but make EMS look bad...again. Pisses me off that people make jokes about things like this and snap judgements before they even have the whole story. The initial blurb was as brief as you can get, yet the first 3 posters (you too unfortunately) seemed to have all the info they needed to blow it off and crack jokes about it.

 

[medic417]

Hold on bozo's. (I don't really care if that's insulting to some or a violation of the new rules, from the responses here some people are to stupid for words)

Maybe you should try a)reading the article and applying some common sense to it, b)realizing that 1 single tiny brief news blurb does not equal the whole story, and c)think for yourselves.

Gosh, that would seem to indicate that whatever testimony they gave was not considered admissible for the criminal court, but ok with civil; maybe because they only came forth after the conviction and were being used as corroboration...the responses are even more funny when you consider that the women referenced in the article aren't even suing.

Oops...guess other people did complain without being prompted.

Guess she didn't wait to be asked either.

For anybody who knows about this already or bothers to learn a bit more before running at the mouth, this case is nothing but a huge blackeye for EVERYONE involved in EMS. To sit and make jokes about it is beyond disgusting and pathetic.

Edit: My favorite part right here:


There aren't even words for this.

Tri I usually don't see eye to eye with you but I agree some pitifully non professional responses by some members on this topic.

 

[triemal04]

Tri I usually don't see eye to eye with you but I agree some pitifully non professional responses by some members on this topic.

Careful now...by reposting the edited portion of my post that may constitute you saying it...which could involve a warning...just sayin'...

 

[ffemt8978]

There's always more than one side to a story.



I don't understand how a company can be held liable for not taking action against an employee before they were informed that the employee may or may not have done something wrong.

And let's not forget ... accusations DO NOT equate to guilt.

No, not catastrophic, but it is as far from good press as you can get, and does nothing but make EMS look bad...again. Pisses me off that people make jokes about things like this and snap judgements before they even have the whole story. The initial blurb was as brief as you can get, yet the first 3 posters (you too unfortunately) seemed to have all the info they needed to blow it off and crack jokes about it.

Perhaps you missed the first sentence in my post, where I said we don't have the full story. I wasn't trying to state that we did, nor was I passing judgment on anyone involved based upon what was presented in the original article.

As to my statement about accusations not equaling guilt, I was referring to the fact that just because a patient complains about something doesn't mean the person is guilty of it. You seem to forget the fact that although this person was convicted in a criminal court for these actions, he was NOT CONVICTED at the time of the accusations, yet the plaintiff is seeking to hold the company liable for this persons guilt BEFORE he was convicted, based soley upon accusations.

 

[triemal04]

Perhaps you missed the first sentence in my post, where I said we don't have the full story. I wasn't trying to state that we did, nor was I passing judgment on anyone involved based upon what was presented in the original article.

As to my statement about accusations not equaling guilt, I was referring to the fact that just because a patient complains about something doesn't mean the person is guilty of it. You seem to forget the fact that although this person was convicted in a criminal court for these actions, he was NOT CONVICTED at the time of the accusations, yet the plaintiff is seeking to hold the company liable for this persons guilt BEFORE he was convicted, based soley upon accusations.

And you need to have the full story because you obviously still don't. (don't take that personally, it's not how it's meant) The person suing AMR is one of the people Haszard was convicted of abusing; he did it, he's guilty, plain and simple. The only thing up for dispute is if AMR knew enough (based on the accusations of 2 other women which they did investigate) prior to Herring's abuse to remove Haszard from duty AND if they should be liable for the actions of an on-duty employee. Clear?

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

Man I tell you I would hate to :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing work with you guys. Calm down. People makes jokes to deal with stressful or traumatic situations all the time. It's a healthy coping mechanism, it's okay if you partake.
Stop taking yourselves so seriously. There is nothing you can do about it. Yeah it sucks, my feelings go out to the victims, my feelings go out to anyone's reputation soiled by this. But hey guess what--- its happened before---it will happen again. It happens in EVERY single profession you can think of. What do you think will happen from belittling your colleagues? Will it strengthen anyone? Will it enact change?

I didn't pass judgement on anyone, I specifically made a joke based on another posters comment. But I do know that people who exhibit these behaviors have presented warning signs long before the fact and often have criminal records. A person doesn't just wake up one day at age 55 and decide they are going to molest people.
It is funny how my "snap, uninformed judgment" at these instances keep turning out to be correct. That is because they aren't snap judgments, I spent a few years studying human behavior so I know a thing or too.

Why don't you use this opportunity to instill a sense of comradery in your fellow EMS workers and inspire others to make a change. By sitting there and saying the sky is falling and people who took light of it are idiots why don't you channel that anger to something constructive.

I not trying to be punitive and I respect you as much as I can respect a person who has just insulted me. But I think just because you think something will be the downfall of EMS doesn't mean we will all agree with you. I often get admonished for taking things too seriously at my job but geeez man--- I bow to your direness.

 

[ffemt8978]

And you need to have the full story because you obviously still don't. (don't take that personally, it's not how it's meant) The person suing AMR is one of the people Haszard was convicted of abusing; he did it, he's guilty, plain and simple. The only thing up for dispute is if AMR knew enough (based on the accusations of 2 other women which they did investigate) prior to Herring's abuse to remove Haszard from duty AND if they should be liable for the actions of an on-duty employee. Clear?

I agree with the guilty part for the medic, but we don't know if AMR was guilty YET. That's all I was trying to point out, nothing more, nothing less.

But how many times have you seen a company sued for the actions of it's employees without them even being notified of any malfeasance prior to the lawsuit being served?

 

[triemal04]

This isn't going to be the downfall of EMS; just another news story that paints us as unprofessional buffoons. Something we really don't need. And I'm all for black humor; one of my favorite pastimes. But there are certain situations when it's more prudent to keep your outh shut and hold the jokes...this would be one.

I agree with the guilty part for the medic, but we don't know if AMR was guilty YET. That's all I was trying to point out, nothing more, nothing less.

But how many times have you seen a company sued for the actions of it's employees without them even being notified of any malfeasance prior to the lawsuit being served?

Gotcha. Yeah, this trial will I suppose give a "definative" answer to AMR's guilt...which I'm torn two ways on. Go figure. You have to remember though, this all happened I believe 1.5-2 years ago (the initial complaints and criminal trial), people had complained about Haszard before Herring, Herring complained to AMR while still at the hospital, and she was one of the people he was convicted of abusing. Hell, read the link I posted; even before her complaint he was a known problem, which is why it's a bigger issue for them.

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

This isn't going to be the downfall of EMS; just another news story that paints us as unprofessional buffoons. .

Why is that? As I said it happens in every profession and it will happen in the future. It won't make the public loose faith in EMS for christ's sake.

EMT's should not have a sense of humor? I'm not knocking on the victims door and saying 'ha ha you got molested' I dont need to be told this is a serious matter, I just choose to deal with it in my own way which doesn't include belittling others who may not see eye to eye with my view of the incident. It's fine you want to get angry and loose sleep over it---doesn't mean I have to. Now if this incident is becoming more prevalent then I will probably then choose to get concerned. But unfortunately, this is human nature. In fact, I just read an article about an EMT who murdered someone but I don't think the public will stop calling EMS because some meth head EMT in whatever state killed someone. I don't think anything will get people to stop calling EMS and those who would stop over this isolated incident are what you might call 'paranoid schizophrenic.'

 

[triemal04]

Why is that? As I said it happens in every profession and it will happen in the future. It won't make the public loose faith in EMS for christ's sake.

EMT's should not have a sense of humor? I'm not knocking on the victims door and saying 'ha ha you got molested' I dont need to be told this is a serious matter, I just choose to deal with it in my own way which doesn't include belittling others who may not see eye to eye with my view of the incident. It's fine you want to get angry and loose sleep over it---doesn't mean I have to. Now if this incident is becoming more prevalent then I will probably then choose to get concerned. But unfortunately, this is human nature. In fact, I just read an article about an EMT who murdered someone but I don't think the public will stop calling EMS because some meth head EMT in whatever state killed someone. I don't think anything will get people to stop calling EMS and those who would stop over this isolated incident are what you might call 'paranoid schizophrenic.'

You seem to have a problem reading posts...first it's that I've said this is catastrophic (twice), now it's that I've said we shouldn't have a sense of humor. <ahem>

And I'm all for black humor; one of my favorite pastimes.

Try and stick to what's been said, not what you think/want to have been said.

I suppose you're right though; really, nobody should care that this happened, or about any of the other screwups that have made it into the news. We should all just hold hand, sing kumbiyah and pass out hugs, right? Sorry, doesn't work that way. Each time some moron makes it into our ranks and then winds up in the news it reflects on each of us to one degree or another. You can pretend otherwise, but the only person you are fooling is you.