Woman sues ambulance co. after sexual assault

PORTLAND, Ore – A woman who was sexually assaulted by an ambulance company’s paramedic said the company took no action against the paramedic even after it received complaints about him.

She is suing American Medical Response for $5 million. 

Royshekka Herring broke down Wednesday as a mental health expert told a jury about her trauma following her ordeal in an ambulance with paramedic Lannie Haszard.

“She can't get his eyes out of her head,“ said the expert.

The single mother of three had called an ambulance because she had stomach problems. She arrived at Legacy Emanuel Hospital screaming and saying Haszard had stuck his hand down her underwear and fondled her.

He's already been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for what he did to her and three other female patients.

Herring only later learned those three other women had already complained to American Medical Response of similar assaults.

As proof that AMR did nothing to stop Haszard, Herring’s attorney Greg Kafoury said that, “evidence from one of the paramedics was that she was told by her supervisor, after Haszard was in jail, that no one was allowed to talk to the police.”

Herring’s attorneys called to the stand four additional women – who weren’t involved in the criminal case - ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s. 

One broke down as she identified the former paramedic from a photo.  All say they would have told AMR that he had demonstrated sexually offensive behavior while they were his patients - if AMR had asked.

The company's attorney countered by questioning why they hadn't made their experiences more of an issue immediately after it happened.

“Isn't it true that at no time before Mr. Haszard’s arrest did you notify AMR Northwest or AMR Inc. of what happened to you in the ambulance?” said James Dumas, attorney for AMR.

“No,” said the witness.

AMR declined to comment on the case.