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Added delays in store for Trump in 2020 election interference case

11 months ago
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith was granted more time on Friday before having to give an outline on the next steps his office is taking in the 2020 election interference case against former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee. The delay pushes the case proceedings further into the thick of the presidential race, […]
Shauneen Miranda

Utah Supreme Court Rules That Alleged Sexual Assault by a Doctor Is Not “Health Care”

11 months ago

This article was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune, which was a member of ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in 2023. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published.

Sexual assault is not health care, and it isn’t covered by Utah’s medical malpractice law, the state’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision revives a lawsuit filed by 94 women who allege their OB-GYN sexually abused them during exams or while he delivered their babies.

In 2022, the group of women sued Dr. David Broadbent and two hospitals where he had worked, wanting to seek civil damages. But a judge dismissed their case because he decided they had filed it incorrectly as a civil sexual assault claim rather than a medical malpractice case. The women had all been seeking health care, Judge Robert Lunnen wrote, and Broadbent was providing that when the alleged assaults happened.

The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica covered the decision, speaking with women about the lower court ruling that made it harder for them to sue the doctor for his alleged actions. After that story ran, the state Legislature voted to reform medical malpractice law to exclude sexual assault. But the new law didn’t apply retroactively; the women still had no way to sue.

So they took their case to the Utah Supreme Court, where their attorneys argued that the lower court judge had made an error in his decision. The high court agreed. Broadbent’s alleged conduct, it found, was not a part of the women’s health care — and therefore, not covered by Utah’s medical malpractice laws.

“Here, the [women] do not allege they were injured by any health care that Broadbent may have provided them,” Justice Paige Petersen wrote in the unanimous ruling. “Rather, they allege that he abused his position as their doctor to sexually assault them under the pretense of providing health care.”

“The point of their claims is that his actions were not really health care at all,” Petersen added.

Stephanie Mateer was the first woman who spoke out publicly about Broadbent, detailing her experience on the “Mormon Stories” podcast in 2021. In the episode, she described what she said was the painful way the doctor examined her, how it left her feeling traumatized and how she discovered online reviews that echoed her experience.

She said on Thursday that she cried “tears of relief” when she read the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling, and that she hopes it gives other alleged victims the courage to speak up and to seek their own justice.

Adam Sorenson, an attorney for the women who sued, noted on Thursday that it’s been almost two years since Lunnen threw out their case — which he said was a “sad and disappointing day.”

“But the Utah Supreme Court’s decision today affirms everything these women have said from the beginning, and tells every person in Utah that sexual abuse by a health care provider never has been, and never will be, ‘health care,’” he said.

“It is difficult to describe how good it is to hear that from our highest court,” he continued, “but any joy I feel is nothing compared to the women who suffered sexual abuse, [who] were told it was just health care, have fought for three years, and can now say that the law in Utah is on their side on this important issue.”

For the women who sued, having their case characterized as malpractice reduced the time they had to sue to two years and limited the amount of money they could receive for pain and suffering.

With the Utah Supreme Court’s decision, the case now returns to Lunnen’s courtroom. Their suit alleges that Broadbent inappropriately touched their breasts, vaginas and rectums, without warning or explanation, and hurt them. Some said he used his bare hand — instead of using a speculum or wearing gloves — during exams. One alleged that he had an erection while he was touching her.

An attorney for Broadbent has denied these women’s allegations, saying they are “without merit.” The OB-GYN agreed last year to stop practicing medicine while police and prosecutors investigate.

He was charged in June in 4th District Court with one count of forcible sexual abuse, and prosecutors say their investigation is continuing. Broadbent is expected to make his first court appearance Monday.

Broadbent’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Neither Utah Valley Hospital nor Mountainstar Health, which owns Timpanogos Hospital, reacted to the ruling in statements released Thursday. Both hospitals are named as defendants in the lawsuit, and both emphasized that Broadbent had privileges to practice at their facilities but was not an employee.

by Jessica Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune

Detroit Man Secures $300,000 Payout For False Facial Recognition Arrest

11 months ago
The Detroit PD — or at least a few of its investigators — managed to be the absolute worst at using facial recognition tech. Despite being told by their tech provider that a “match” was never to be considered probable cause for an arrest on its own, multiple PD investigators decided a match — no […]
Tim Cushing

KidSmart hosts $1M Back-to-School event, providing supplies to teachers

11 months ago
ST. LOUIS - Back to School is kicking off in a big way as KidSmart hosted its fourth annual “Ready for Back to School $1 Million Distribution Day” in downtown St. Louis on Friday. The event occurred on Clark Avenue, basically right between Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village. The event started at 8 a.m. and [...]
Chris Regnier

Illinois Center for Autism to Host Annual Pedal for Autism Fundraiser and Family Fun Fest

11 months ago
BELLEVILLE - The Illinois Center for Autism (ICA) will host their annual Pedal for Autism fundraiser and Family Fun Fest. From 7–9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, bicyclists can ride two routes to raise money for ICA’s programs. Starting at 10 a.m., the Center will host a free festival for families and kids to enjoy. Both events will take place at the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) campus. “Right before school really gets rolling, we thought it’d be a good way to kind of bring the summer to a close,” explained Rachel Newsome, ICA’s Communications Officer. “Although our Pedal for Autism event has been around for many years, we decided it was time to expand our event and we wanted to focus on the family. This event has something for everyone.” ICA has hosted the Pedal for Autism fundraiser for the past 15 years. Bicyclists pay $25 or $70 for a family of four, then choose one of two routes to ride on the morning of Aug. 17.

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Congress aims to boost enforcement at the border – with Canada

11 months ago
WASHINGTON – While much of U.S. border security talk focuses on the southwest corner of the country, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill in June aimed at a different target —  growing migration along the U.S.-Canada border. The legislation, titled the Northern Border Coordination Act, was co-authored by Sens. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and […]
Lia Chien

The Conversation Continues: 10 years since Michael Brown's death

11 months ago
FERGUSON, Mo. - Friday marks ten years since a former Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown. His death sparked anger, protests across the nation, and a crucial conversation about racial tension and practices in community policing and interaction in Ferguson. FOX 2’s Blair Ledet talked with Ferguson Chief Troy Doyle, who is the [...]
Nick Gladney

Madison County: I-270 Lane Closures Begin Aug. 9

11 months ago
GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. One lane will remain open. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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Grafton Gears Up For Family Fun Day 2024

11 months ago
GRAFTON - An evening of family-friendly fun awaits Grafton residents and visitors for Grafton Family Fun Day 2024 this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Red Hawk Park in Grafton. In addition to face painting, rock painting, and other activities, this year’s Family Fun Day will also include pickleball following the installation of pickleball courts at Red Hawk Park which debuted at last year’s event . Local royalty will be making an appearance this year, as Miss Jersey County and Little Miss Jersey County join the festivities on Saturday. Food and drink including hot dogs, chips, and water will be provided for attendees, who are asked to bring their own blankets and/or chairs. Family Fun Day 2024 will also see the return of local emergency vehicles, including a helicopter from Survival Flight, vehicles from the Grafton Police and Jersey County S.W.A.T., as well as QEM fire trucks and an ambulance from the Jersey Community Hospital (JCH) Ambulance

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Gurgone, Hayes and Johns Work Showcased: Trio Will Have Displays At Edwardsville Art Fair

11 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - These are another of a series of profiles on artists who will have art displayed at the Edwardsville Art Fair in City Park Sept. 27-29, 2024. Artist #1 Artist Name: Rhonda Gurgone Artist Medium: Jewelry Artist Statement: " I believe that jewelry we wear should not only look beautiful but also tell a story. The antique buttons I use in my pieces are selected for their unique design and historical significance. My goal is to create jewelry that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also meaningful and sentimental." Artist #2 Artist Name: Kara Hayes Artist Medium: Jewelry Artist Statement: " I am a dual artist. I seamlessly blend the elegance of precious metals with the luminosity of fused glass to craft captivating jewelry. Through meticulous techniques and passion for innovation, each piece I create is imbued with beauty. My ultimate goal as an artist is for my creations to resonate with the souls of others and to activate an emotion deep within."

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