Horowitz Law Files Lawsuit On Behalf of Patient Alleging Sexual Abuse During Sleep Study
On November 26, 2019, Horowitz Law filed a lawsuit on behalf of a woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted at a Florida sleep center. The Complaint alleges that sleep technician Andrew Chickoree, 52, of Pasco County, inappropriately touched her during a sleep study at Pasco Sleep Center, located at 5453 Gulf Drive, New Port Richey, Florida. The defendants in the lawsuit are Pasco Sleep Center and N2 Breathing.
The complaint describes how in August 2019, under the recommendation of her doctor, the woman checked into Pasco Sleep Center to undergo an overnight sleep study. Chickoree escorted her to her sleeping quarters and prepared her for the study. He placed sensors on her body gave her a sleep aid.
The following morning, the woman awoke to Chickoree adjusting the sensors. He began rubbing a damp washcloth over her body and underneath her pants and underwear, directly on her vagina. The woman did not invite or welcome this contact and was stunned by his actions. She realized this was not part of the medical process.
Chickoree was contracted to work as a Polysomnographic Technologist by N2 Breathing. He was arrested in October 2019 on one count of sexual battery and another count of battery after two Florida women came forward with allegations of sexual assault. Chickoree told them he needed to touch them to ensure the sleep studies would be successful, police said. The inappropriate touching was reportedly recorded by a video camera.
There is an expectation of trust when seeking help from a medical professional. Sexual abuse by a health care practitioner breaches that trust, goes against medical ethics, and breaks the law. Any healthcare organization or institution in which sexual abuse is committed must take responsibility for failing to properly screen potential employees and to protect the public.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against healthcare organizations on behalf of clients who were inappropriately touched at their facilities. Healthcare practitioners are never permitted to have sexual contact with a client. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during a healthcare visit, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.