TACOMA, Wash., March 19, 2024 (GlobeNewswire) – Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp today filed four new Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) administrative complaints against the United States Department of the Army and the Department of Defense (collectively “the Army”) on behalf of four John Does (John Does 8-11), all of whom are former patients of Dr. Michael Stockin – an Army doctor facing criminal charges for the sexual abuse of numerous patients. Sanford Heisler Sharp previously filed two FTCA complaints on September 14, 2023 on behalf of John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, and five additional complaints on November 13, 2023 on behalf of John Does 3-7.
All John Does are represented in the matter by Christine Dunn and Carolin Guentert, Partners at Sanford Heisler Sharp and Co-Chairs of the firm’s Sexual Violence, Title IX and Victims’ Rights Practice Group, and Tom Henderson Civil Rights Fellow Jillian Seymour.
The Federal Tort Claims Act is a federal statute that permits individuals to bring legal claims against federal agencies for torts committed by agency personnel. Prior to filing an FTCA complaint in court, the individual must first file an administrative complaint with the agency at fault. The agency is then afforded at least six months to investigate the claim. After that, the individual may file a lawsuit against the agency in federal court.
Today, Sanford Heisler Sharp has initiated the FTCA legal process for four additional clients by filing administrative complaints against the Army. The firm currently represents a total of 11 former patients of Dr. Stockin. The four complaints filed today on behalf of John Does 8 through 11 include remarkably similar allegations to those made by John Does 1-7, whose administrative complaints are now under investigation by the Army. Specifically, the four new FTCA complaints allege that Dr. Stockin – an Army pain management doctor at Madigan Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington – forced John Does 8 through 11 to disrobe during their respective appointments. After the patients disrobed, Dr. Stockin, with no chaperone present, fondled the patients’ genitals. Although Dr. Stockin committed the abuse under the guise of performing a medical exam, the administrative complaints allege that there was no medical necessity for Dr. Stockin to touch the patients’ genitals in this manner.
The administrative complaints further allege that the Army is liable under the FTCA because it was negligent in hiring, supervising, and retaining Dr. Stockin and that the Army lacked adequate protocols to keep patients safe from sexual abuse. The new complaints reveal disturbing facts that highlight the Army’s negligence. Specifically, one of the newly filed complaints alleges that the patient reported the abuse to numerous Army employees, but nothing was done to stop Dr. Stockin. Another of the new complaints alleges that the patient was sexually abused by Dr. Stockin in March 2022 – one month after the Army claims it removed Dr. Stockin from duty due to the abuse allegations.
On August 30, 2023, Army officials announced that the Army was bringing criminal charges against Dr. Stockin for sexually abusing at least 23 victims, including charges of abusive sexual contact and indecent viewing. On October 17, 2023, similar charges were added for 17 additional victims of Dr. Stockin. On February 23, 2024, Dr. Stockin was arraigned on charges stemming from the sexual abuse of 41 different patients. Some experts believe this case has the potential to become one of the largest sexual assault cases in military history.
“The massive number of patients who allege they were sexually abused by Dr. Stockin is shocking. I continue to get calls from victims with remarkably similar stories about how they were sexually violated by Dr. Stockin. A sexual abuse scandal of this magnitude could only happen if the Army was negligent,” said Dunn. “My clients hope that Dr. Stockin is held accountable in the criminal proceedings. But it is equally important that the Army be held accountable for allowing this harm to occur and to ensure that this never happens again.”
About Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP
Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP is a national public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in Baltimore, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Diego, and Nashville. Sanford Heisler Sharp focuses on employment discrimination, Title IX, wage and hour, whistleblower, criminal/sexual violence, and financial services matters. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for its clients through many verdicts and settlements. The National Law Journal recognized Sanford Heisler Sharp as 2021 Employment Rights Firm of the Year and 2021 Human Rights Firm of the Year.
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