Metro Networks/COX:

UMC, Sexual Assault Victim Work Out Settlement
09-30-2005 10:18 AM

(Tucson, AZ) -- University Medical Center has worked out a settlement with one of the three women who were victims of sexual assault while a patient there. Eleanor Torres had filed suit against UMC after Daniel Lugo Perez was convicted of sexually abusing Torres and two other women in the hospital while they were recovering from surgery. The suit claimed the hospital did not notify police of the abuse in a timely manner, nor did it tell police of other abuse cases. The terms of the settlement have not been released, but Torres' attorney says Torres is happy to have the matter behind her.

I hope Ms. Torres got a lot of money from UMC. Besides not properly screening their employees, UMC staff's responses to her and others' initial allegations against Perez are beyond the pale. They dismissed what the victims said, didn't believe them and refused to fulfill their legally mandated roles to report such accusations to law enforcement. Some of these victimizations could have been prevented if UMC responded in a more timely manner.

I had the great honor of meeting Ms. Torres' attorney, Lynn Cadigan, last night at a private event.
She is perhaps best known for her work on behalf of victims of Catholic clergy abuse. Ms. Cadigan is humble, smart and funny. She was the guest speaker at this event and she was downright disarming.

I'm relieved that survivors have such a powerful advocate working on their behalf.