Doctor is subject of 2 new lawsuits

Three women say the doctor touched them inappropriately, but no charges were filed.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
Published October 31, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Allegations that Dr. Gunwant Dhaliwal inappropriately touched women under his care were made in two lawsuits filed in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court on Monday.

They are similar to allegations made against the doctor by another woman in a lawsuit filed in April.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office, however, investigated two of the incidents and decided not to file charges against the doctor.

"There was not enough evidence to suggest a crime was committed," said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.

The doctor's response: none of the incidents ever happened. "We deny any and all charges," said Dhaliwal, 46.

The doctor told deputies that media attention surrounding the complaints has led people to "extort" money from him. He reiterated that on Tuesday when he spoke of these latest lawsuits. His attorney, Jeff Goodis, said they'll fight the allegations in court.

The lawsuits allege negligence, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The attorney for all three women, Michael Feiner, did not return calls for comment on Tuesday.

Here are the complaints in chronological order:

Julieann Finnegan, whose suit was filed Monday, said the doctor inappropriately touched her from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2006. Finnegan said she was a critical care patient at Community Hospital in New Port Richey when she came into contact with Dhaliwal there.

The lawsuit filed in April alleges the doctor inappropriately touched Danielle Turner during a Feb. 12 visit to his Gulf View Walk-In Clinic on State Road 54. According to a sheriff's report about the incident, Turner said that she was a new hire there when contact occurred while the doctor was demonstrating microdermabrasion, a cosmetic procedure.

The doctor told deputies he spoke to Turner about a job but that she left without going into an examining room and that he never touched her.

A witness said Turner never left the lobby. Dhaliwal wanted Turner charged with filing a false report. The deputy said he could not find probable cause to make an arrest based on either Turner's complaint or the doctor's.

The other lawsuit filed Monday alleges another incident at the clinic May 30. In a sheriff's report, patient Marissa Satinoff accused the doctor of inappropriately touching her. The doctor denied the allegations. He and a witness said the doctor was never alone with the patient.

Dhaliwal is currently licensed to practice medicine in Florida, according to the Department of Health's online records.

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or 727 869-6236.

[Last modified October 30, 2007, 21:45:35]