| The Doctor’s Advocate | Third Quarter 2006 |
Physician Wins Counterclaim and Sanctions
A physician in Washington has won a $2.8 million counterclaim against a plaintiff whom the court found had fabricated allegations that the physician had sexually molested her (and had allowed his identical twin brother to molest her).
On May 24, 2006, Judge Katherine Stolz, Pierce County Superior Court, ruled that Perla Saldivar must pay Dr. Dennis Momah $2.8 million in damages. Judge Stolz also ordered Saldivar and her husband to pay attorneys’ fees and costs to Dr. Momah and to U.S. HealthWorks, his employer at the time of the allegations.
Judge Stolz also assessed $300,000 in fines against plaintiff’s attorney Harish Bharti, stating that the “false accusations of sexual assault and impersonation constitute outrageous conduct beyond all bounds of human decency in a civilized society.” She added that Bharti was an “active and knowing participant in the fabrication(s) of Perla Saldivar’s ever-changing accusations against Dennis Momah” and noted that he had filed “irrelevant and salacious” allegations to garner media attention and to harass Dennis Momah and damage his reputation.
Both Saldivar and Bharti have indicated that they will appeal the ruling.
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