Florida Jury Awards Victim $25 Million in Sexual Abuse Case—Hospital Delayed Reporting

On November 8th, 2024, the Tampa Bay Times reported that a jury in Florida has awarded the victim of a sexual assault $25 million. The civil claim was brought against a hospital that improperly and unreasonably delayed reporting of the incident. Here, our Miami sexual assault victims rights lawyer explain what happened, the decision of the jury, and the law in Florida.

Woman Sexually Assaulted at Hospital in Florida

 In January 2021, a 67-year-old woman named Lenna Ray was admitted to HCA Florida Citrus Hospital in Inverness, Florida (Citrus County). She reportedly suffered a fall at work. Ms. Ray was prescribed a morphine injection for pain. She was administered the drug intravenously by her assigned nurse, a man named Hiram Bonilla. The method caused her to become woozy very quickly. Mr. Bonilla then covered the room’s window and proceeded to sexually assault Ms. Ray several times over the course of four hours. Ms. Ray was aware of the sexual abuse—but she was too incapacitated by the drugs (and frightened) to fight back or seek help.

 Hospital Failed to Protect Patient, Delayed Reporting 

The hospital’s response to the incident raised serious concerns about patient safety and institutional responsibility. After Ms. Ray managed to report the assault to her therapist, there was a six-hour delay before law enforcement was notified. That is very much contrary to recommended protocols for these cases. Alarmingly, during this time, some hospital staff accused Ms. Ray of fabricating the story. She even overheard laughter outside her room—making the trauma worse. She sued the hospital through a civil sexual assault claim. A jury heard the case and awarded her $25 million. The hospital was held liable for failing to protect the patient and delaying the report.

 Health Care Institutions May Be Held Liable in a Civil Sexual Assault Claim 

Sexual assault should never happen in a health care setting. However, the sad reality is that vulnerable patients are sometimes victimized by bad actors. Victims of sexual assault in healthcare settings should know that institutions can be held legally accountable for the actions of their employees. Indeed, hospitals in Florida have a duty of care to protect patients from harm—by staff members, other patients, and any other person in the facility. If a sexual assault in a hospital or other health care setting happens, the victim can pursue a civil lawsuit. A top-tier sexual assault lawyer can help you take action to get justice, accountability, and compensation.

 Consult With Our Miami, FL Civil Sexual Assault Lawyers

At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our Miami civil sexual assault attorney is compassionate, experienced, and committed to fighting for justice. If you have any questions about a civil sexual assault claim, we are here as a legal resource. Contact us today for a free, confidential case review. With offices in Miami and West Palm Beach, our firm represents sexual violence victims in civil claims throughout Florida.

Source:

tampabay.com/news/health/2024/11/08/jury-awards-woman-25m-after-hca-citrus-hospital-delayed-reporting-sexual-abuse-2/