Sex Abuse — Past Case Example
In a case that generated an enormous amount of media attention, Royshekka Herring sued AMR Ambulance Company for having been sexually abused on the way to the hospital by an ambulance attendant, Lannie Haszard. Haszard was the only one of 500 local AMR attendants who had ever received a complaint of sexual misconduct, and he had had three such complaints in the previous 14 months. Nonetheless, he remained on the job.
Greg Kafoury cross examines Randy Lauer, general manager of American Medical Response, NW
After Haszard’s third accuser had told the police what had happened to her, AMR officials from across the Northwest gathered to decide what to do. Their meeting notes show that they agreed to not discuss the matter further outside the management group. In other words, no one at AMR told the police about Haszard’s two prior sexual misconduct complaints.
Months later, Royshekka Herring was molested while being transported to Emanuel Emergency. There, the hospital staff was initially dismissive of her allegations, and when she refused to be silent and tried to leave, a staff nurse called security on her. Eventually, the police were brought in, and their investigation led to Haszard’s arrest. Haszard is now serving a prison term, and Ms. Herring was awarded $3.25 million by a Portland jury in October, 2009, along with an additional $600,000 in attorney fees.
Greg Kafoury and Royshekka Herring enjoy one of the few light moments in Herring v. American Medical Response.