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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Woman Claims Ultrasound Led to Unwanted Sexual Encounter

A 70-year-old Virginia woman claims in court that a technician touched her feet with his penis during 2014 ultrasound examination.

(CN) – A 70-year-old Virginia woman claims in court that a technician touched her feet with his penis during 2014 ultrasound examination.

In a complaint filed in Prince William County October 5, plaintiff Betty Smith says she visited Carient Heart and Vascular in Manassas, Virginia in June 2014 for a routine ultrasound and examination of her legs.

Smith, who is represented by Kevin Locklin and Brian Coleman of the Manassas-based firm Locklin and Coleman, claims defendant Thomas Purcell Jr., 42, failed to “conduct an ultrasound examination without utilizing his sexual pleasures.”

As recounted in the complaint, Purcell examined both of of Smith's legs, then asked her to scoot herself down the table so that her feet dangled off the edge. He then asked Smith if she suffered from neuropathy or loss of feeling in her feet.

“[U]nbeknownst to plaintiff, defendant Purcell removed his penis from his pants and had placed it between the plaintiff’s feet,” the complaint says. “At that point defendant Purcell had grabbed both of the plaintiff’s feet and was rubbing them on his penis at said time and place.”

Smith says a "strange sensation" around her feet caused her to look down and at that point, she saw "Purcell with his erect penis placed between her feet and rubbing his penis until he ejaculated.”

Smith contends the emotional shock of the event delayed her reporting the incident until October 2014. After a months-long investigation by Prince William County police, Purcell was arrested at the clinic in December 2014. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in April 2016.

Smith is suing Purcell, Carient Heart and Vascular, and its parent companies, INOVA Health Care Services, INOVA Medical Group Manassas and INOVA Medical Group Cardiology.

She is seeking compensatory damages of $250,000.

A spokesperson for INOVA said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Categories / Business, Criminal, Health, Personal Injury, Regional

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