Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Virginia EMS provider is facing a $3.5 million suit brought by a 22-year old who claims she was sexually assaulted during a transport by a paramedic who was twice investigated for similar misconduct.
Regional One, Inc. is accused of negligent hiring and negligent supervision of former paramedic Keith Edward Dean, 60. Dean is currently serving a life plus 20 year sentence for sexually assaulting the woman. Both Regional One and Dean were named in the suit that was filed in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court on May 15, 2015.
In March, a jury in the criminal case convicted Dean of aggravated sexual battery and object sexual penetration, reportedly taking less than 10 minutes to recommend the life plus 20-year prison sentence.
On June 4, 2014, the victim suffered a seizure and her boyfriend called 911. According to the Star Tribune: “The victim told the jury she was alone in the back of the ambulance with Dean and was restrained by a harness to a stretcher when the assault occurred. She said Dean put his mouth on her breast, forced her to touch his genitals through his pants, fondled her, and tried to put his tongue in her mouth.”
Dean was accused of sexual misconduct in 1995 while employed as a paramedic for a different provider in West Virginia, and again in 2004 while working for Regional One.
The suit seeks $2.5 million in compensatory and $1 million in punitive damages.
