BENTON — A Marion woman is suing the operator of a local VA hospital for $5 million, alleging a supervisor forced the plaintiff to have sex.
Erika Faulkner filed a complaint Nov. 13 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against the United States of America, alleging the Marion VA Hospital operator failed to protect, supervise, monitor and assist her at all times she was on the hospital premises.
According to the complaint, at and before July 2016, Faulkner was a volunteer at the Marion VA Hospital when she was allegedly forced by her supervisor, Douglas E. Bowers, to have sex with him despite his being aware that she had mental disabilities.
Faulkner claims she has sustained physical injury, pain, suffering and a loss of normal life.
The plaintiff alleges the U.S. improperly designed and operated its volunteer services program and failed to take any action to protect her from Bowers’ attacks,.
Faulkner seeks trial by jury, damages of $5 million, plus costs of suit. She is represented by attorney Mark D. Prince of Prince Law Firm in Marion.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Case number 3:18-cv-02073-SMY-DGW