Nurse sues El Camino Hospital over alleged sex assault at retirement party

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer

A nurse who said she was sexually assaulted at a retirement party is suing El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, alleging that HR told her that nothing could be done because the incident happened outside of work.

The nurse said her coworker kept pestering her about the alleged assault to see if she was going to report him.

“He waited for her in the hallway to hunt her down and followed her into the cafeteria during lunch,” the nurse said in her lawsuit, filed April 30 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The assault, stalking and a lack of support from El Camino Hospital led the nurse to have a mental breakdown, the suit said.

The Post isn’t identifying the nurse because the newspaper doesn’t normally name sex assault victims unless they have chosen to be identified. The Post isn’t identifying the coworker accused of the assault because he is under investigation by the District Attorney but hasn’t been charged. The Post will name him if he is charged.

The nurse was hired at the hospital in May 2020 for $103.57 per hour. She said she met her alleged assailant in June 2021 when she started working in the catheterization laboratory, where he worked as electrophysiology program manager.

Their conversations were “cordial and professional” about work, food, parenting and redeeming miles and points for trips, the suit said.

Their relationship changed at a retirement party on March 1, 2024, with about 40 people — including nurses, doctors, managers and directors — at Morton’s The Steakhouse in San Jose, the suit said.

Bathroom incident

The nurse said the coworker followed her into a bathroom stall, where she yelled for him to get out.

“(The coworker) instantly turned to lock the door in the bathroom stall, prior to pinning (the nurse) against the wall of the adjoining stall,” the suit said. “He then forcefully pressed his lips unto hers, while he simultaneously grabbed (the nurse’s) breast under her blazer.”

The nurse said she could smell alcohol on her coworker’s breath, and he asked her to perform a sex act and exposed himself, the suit said.

The nurse told the coworker to get out for a second time, and he told her to be his watchdog so nobody would see him leaving the women’s restroom, the suit said.

The nurse’s coworkers noticed she was upset when she returned to the party, the suit said. 

Wanted to avoid a scandal

The coworker messaged the nurse on Facebook two days later and asked to speak with her privately, the suit said. The coworker allegedly pleaded with the nurse to keep the incident between them because he didn’t want a scandal, the suit said.

The nurse said her emotional state began to fall apart in June because the alleged assault was affecting her marriage. She told her husband what happened, and he encouraged her to go to HR, the suit said.

The nurse provided a statement about the assault to HR representative Lauren Isonio on Sept. 30, the suit said.

The nurse said her follow-up emails were ignored for two weeks until she went to the HR office and learned the coworker she had accused was never interviewed, the suit said.

Isonio allegedly told the nurse on Oct. 16 that HR wouldn’t pursue an investigation because the incident happened outside of work, and the coworker hadn’t stalked her since September.

Mental health challenges

The nurse “felt helpless and battled suicidal thoughts” and on Oct. 18 was placed on a 5150 hold, which happens when a person is at risk of harming themselves, the suit said.

When she was discharged six hours later, she learned that police had arrested her coworker, putting him in handcuffs, the suit said.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office confirmed on Thursday that the coworker is under investigation, but no charges have been filed.

The nurse pursued a restraining order against her coworker but agreed to dismiss the case at a hearing on Jan. 6 in exchange for the coworker quitting his job.

The nurse is suing the hospital for failing to prevent sexual harassment and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

The hospital hasn’t responded in court.

“We are aware of the complaint and take these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” hospital spokesman Ross Coyle said in an email. “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, our organization does not tolerate harassment or misconduct. We are reviewing the matter and remain committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all employees.”