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$625,000 Jury Verdict in Negligence Suit for New York Hospital’s Failure to Protect Patient from Prisoner

In 1994 a New York County jury awarded a woman $625,000 in a lawsuit contending a hospital failed to coordinate a security plan with the Department of Corrections, resulting in a sexual assault upon her. The 20-year-old plaintiff had undergone gynecological surgery and was in a room adjacent to a prisoner hospitalized for eating a pencil in jail. When the guard left the prisoner's room to arrange for his discharge from the hospital, the prisoner went into the plaintiff's room. The prisoner touched her gown in the vaginal area and then began masturbating in her presence until he was apprehended.

The plaintiff had a severe history of sexual abuse that was aggravated by the incident. In awarding her $625,000, the jury found the hospital 65% negligent and the state Dept. of Corrections 35% negligent. The plaintiff was represented by Jeff Korek. See: Doe v. Department of Corrections, New York County Supreme Court, Case number unknown.

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Related legal case

Doe v. Department of Corrections

Please see the brief bank for documents related to this case.