Twin New Jersey Police Officers Facing Sexual Harassment Allegations.

Posted on August 10, 2015 by gil hoy

Sexual harassment is far more common than we might be willing to believe. In fact, an estimated 54% of workers have experienced some form of workplace sexual harassment during their lifetime. Sexual harassment can come in many forms, including persistent offensive comments, or more obvious forms of harassment like unwelcome touching.

Angel and Luis Santiago are identical twin brothers and police officers with the City of Bridgeton Police Department in New Jersey. According to a lawsuit recently filed by five female co-workers, Angel repeatedly subjected them to sexual harassment. Later, when they complained, Luis retaliated by making false complaints against them. The lawsuit was filed by five women who worked closely with the brothers as sergeants, detectives, dispatchers and secretaries within the police department.

According to the five plaintiffs, Angel Santiago engaged in repeated acts of sexual harassment against women in the department. He would allegedly run his genitals against the women, touch their breasts and attempt to kiss them. He spread false rumors that he was sexually involved with co-workers and showed the women cellphone videos of him engaging in sex. The complaint went on to describe more than four pages of instances of sexual harassment.

Following an internal investigation, Angel was suspended from the police department without pay in October of 2013. In the months after his twin brother was suspended, Luis Santiago made several false complaints against the plaintiffs. According to Fusion Blog, Luis also made dirty looks at the plaintiffs and engaged in other hostile conduct against them.

No one should be subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. To talk with one of our dedicated Boston sexual harassment lawyer specialists about your potential claim, please call 617-787-3700.

Posted in Boston Negligence Lawyer, Boston Personal Injury Lawyer, Boston Sexual Assault Lawyer, Boston Sexual Harassment Lawyer | Leave a comment

California Woman Awarded $28 Million From Kaiser Permanente After Delayed Cancer Diagnosis.

Posted on August 3, 2015 by gil hoy

Alarmingly, over 12% of cancers are first misdiagnosed.  A misdiagnosis or late cancer diagnoses can be the result of many factors, including: a doctor’s failure to discover a tumor that should have been detected, malfunctioning technology, professional misinterpretation of conducted tests, an incorrect procedure, or misplaced or switched laboratory results. Such errors can often result in aggressive cancers being more difficult to treat, which can lead to disfigurement, painful and expensive medical treatment, and even a wrongful death.  Claims involving a late diagnosis of cancer can be brought against the negligent physician, other medical professional, radiologist, or third party responsible for manufacturing any defective equipment or technology. 

Anna Rahm, a 23-year-old from California, visited a Kaiser Permanente office after suffering from lower back pain in 2009.  After a physical exam, Rahm was told that she just needed to loose weight and was referred to a nutritionist and an acupuncture therapist.  Rahm and her mother insisted that the doctors conduct an MRI.  When Kaiser eventually ordered the MRI three months later, the test found a massive cancerous tumor in Rahm’s pelvis.  Because the test was ordered so late, doctors had to amputate her right leg, half of her pelvis and part of her spine.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rahm was awarded $28.2 million as a result of the late diagnosis of cancer by her Kaiser Permanente doctors.  Rahm argued that if the cancer was caught earlier, her limbs could have been salvaged.  The damages awarded will go toward covering her future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering.

Although Kaiser Permanente has a fairly good reputation, the nonprofit company has been fined in the past for failing to provide timely mental health treatment to patients.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a misdiagnosis or late cancer diagnosis, please call our Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com.

Posted in Boston Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer, Boston Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Lawyer | Leave a comment

St. Leonard’s Ministries Ordered to Pay Assault Victims $18 Million After Failing to Provide Adequate Security.

Posted on August 3, 2015 by gil hoy

Hundreds of people are assaulted every year in parking lots, schools, work places, hotels, college campuses, nursing homes, and business. Injuries vary widely, and are often both emotionally and physically harming.  Assault victims and loved ones often wonder if the incident could have been prevented. In many cases, the answer is yes. Frequently, if the area where the attack occurred had been equipped with the proper security devices, security guards, and adequate lighting and locks, the assault incident could have been avoided.

In 2009, a serial rapist sexually assaulted three women at knifepoint in Chicago. That rapist, Julius Anderson, had previously walked out of St. Leonard’s Ministries, the halfway house where he had been staying. Anderson, who had been paroled only two months earlier, was on the loose for 24 days, committing various sexual assaults. He had a long history of sexually assaulting women and was a very violent and mentally-ill man. He is currently serving a 75-year prison sentence for his crimes.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the three victims filed a lawsuit against St. Leonard’s Ministries for allegedly failing to provide adequate security and not alerting police when Anderson went missing. In fact, Chicago police were not notified until 12 days after Anderson escaped. A Chicago jury deliberated for less than one hour and ultimately awarded the three plaintiffs $18 million.

Our Massachussetts negligent security lawyer specialists are available 24/7. Please call 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com.

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