Plaintiff was a college student in her early 20’s. She sought psychological counseling to help with significant adjustment issues. Instead of providing adequate psychotherapy, Defendant psychotherapist seduced Plaintiff into a sexual relationship by abusing the transference process, which destroyed the effectiveness of her treatment and caused Plaintiff additional psychological injury.
Defendant therapist alleged that the relationship was consensual and the school alleged that it was not responsible for its employee’s consensual sexual relationship with a client.
Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, retained expert witnesses, who opined that because of the power differential between the psychotherapist and the patient, it was impossible for the sexual relationship to be consensual and that based on California law under the circumstances in this case, the school should be responsible for the psychotherapist employee’s actions.
RESULT:
Settlement on behalf of Plaintiff for $400,000