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Alarming Complaint Against Chiropractor

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (CN) - A woman claims in court that her chiropractor sexually assaulted her in his office, after changing his name to avoid being identified as having had his license suspended for molesting patients in the 1990s.

Jane Doe sued John Roe, Roe's wife and business partner Mary Roe, and their chiropractic office-which Doe calls ABC Company-in Sonoma County Court.

Doe says in her complaint that the defendants will not be prejudiced by her use of a pseudonym, since "defendants' identity, for the time being, has also been protected by the use of the pseudonyms John Roe and Mary Roe."

Doe says she sought treatment from the Roes on April 21, 2011, for injuries she suffered when she was hit by a She claims that both John and Mary Roe treated her for more than 6 months.

"On or about November 10, 2011, plaintiff went to defendant ABC Company for a chiropractic appointment with defendant John Roe," the complaint states. "After plaintiff entered the building of ABC Company defendant John Roe locked the front door. He then escorted plaintiff to an examination room. He asked plaintiff to lie down on the examination table and unfastened her bra and pulled her pants and underwear down to her knees. Defendant John Roe then proceeded to touch plaintiff's genitals and breasts several times and make comments regarding her pubic hair and breasts. Plaintiff panicked and left the office," Doe says in her complaint.

Doe claims that in 1999 John Roe faced two counts of false imprisonment and vaginal or anal penetration with a foreign object. The state suspended his license for 120 days and he received 5 years' probation, according to her complaint.

"Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that defendant Mary Roe was aware of the prior incidents of sexual misconduct by defendant John Roe against female patients. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that defendant Mary Roe and defendant John Roe thereafter moved their chiropractic business to Sonoma County so that potential patients would not be aware of the prior incidents of sexual misconduct against female patients. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that defendant John Roe and defendant Mary Roe purposefully misspelled defendant John Roe's name on ABC Company's website so that potential patients would not be able to identify defendant John Roe as the perpetrator of prior incidents of sexual misconduct against patients," Doe states in her complaint.

Doe seeks damages for a litany of charges, including sexual assault and battery, false imprisonment, sexual harassment, professional negligence and misrepresentation. She also claims Mary Roe knew about her husband's deeds and failed to stop it or warn their female patients.

According to The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Doe's lawsuit against the chiropractors- identified by the newspaper as Brian and Melissa Icke-is the least of their worries.

In April, a judge ordered Brian Icke to stand trial on two felony sex counts stemming from the incident with Doe, the newspaper reported. Judge Rene Chouteau also temporarily barred Icke from treating female patients, citing his 1999 conviction, according to the Press-Democrat.

If convicted of the sex charges, Icke faces up to 8 years in prison. According to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners licensing website , his license has been suspended for disciplinary action.

Doe is represented by Rachael Erickson and Megan Truxillo, with Cochran Erickson, in Santa Rosa.

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