A jury awarded $200,000 to a medical technician who alleged she was groped by a cardiologist at Kindred Hospital in Gardena.
The Los Angeles Superior Court panel deliberated for a little more than a day before finding in favor of Yunuen Campos on Wednesday in a retrial of her lawsuit against Dr. John M. Kennedy. The jury rejected Campos’ claim for punitive damages.
“We’re very happy we could get justice for her finally,” Campos’ lawyer, Frank Magnanimo, said Thursday.
Magnanimo noted that the case is nearly two years old and previously went to trial before another jury that could not reach a verdict, prompting Judge Michael Linfield to declare a mistrial on April 27.
Kennedy’s attorney, Mark Hathaway, said the case is far from over.
“This verdict is an outrage and it won’t stand on appeal,” Hathaway said.
In his closing argument in the first trial, Magnanimo said his client suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the alleged fondling incident on April 10, 2013.
Campos filed suit four months later, alleging sexual battery, gender violence and civil rights violations.
Hathaway countered that there was no evidence to substantiate Campos’ claims. He also said Campos never cried out for help, though she alleges she was in distress at the time.
Campos is a cardiac sonographer who performs diagnostic and imaging procedures for doctors who treat patients with cardiac disease. She alleged she was inappropriately touched by Kennedy in the doctor’s lounge and again in a nearby bathroom after he pushed her inside.
The District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Kennedy, who has provided television commentary on medical issues on several occasions.
— City News Service