WHEELING – A Wheeling registered nurse alleges her rejection of a doctor's advances led to her losing her job.
Crystal Bauer filed a complaint in Ohio Circuit Court against Valley Hospice Inc., Schumacher Clinical Partners and Faraz Alam, MD alleging that they violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and the Patient Safety Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff worked as a hospital liaison by Valley Hospice and occasionally worked with Alam at Wheeling Hospital. She alleges Alam made sexually inappropriate and harassing remarks and advances that she declined and that he stopped referring patients to her for doing so.
In March, the suit states the plaintiff asked Alam to transfer a terminally ill patient to the sixth floor of Wheeling Hospital to receive hospice care, which he refused. She alleges Alam complained about her to Valley Hospice and she was fired as a result. She alleges Alam's animosity was a result of her rejecting his advances.
The plaintiff alleges she has suffered lost wages, lost benefits, aggravation and other damages as a result.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, costs and other losses and damages to which she is entitled. She is represented by Frank X. Duff and Sandra K. Law of Schrader Companion Duff & Law PLLC in Wheeling.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ronald E. Wilson.
Ohio Circuit Court case number 18-C-160