A woman accusing a nursing assistant of rape at a Goodyear long-term care facility has taken her grievances to court. FOX 10 Phoenix reports that the plaintiff, known only as "Jane Doe," is seeking over $300,000 in damages against Palm Valley Post Acute and the accused, Bobby Lee Williams, in a lawsuit filed on May 6. The suit alleges multiple instances of sexual abuse, negligence, and negligent hiring and supervision.

The accusations have led to a criminal investigation by the Goodyear Police Department, and although Williams relinquished his certified nursing assistant license after admitting to having had sex with the patient, he maintains that the encounters were consensual, suggesting she initiated the contact. According to the FOX 10 report, he claimed "she came onto me." However, details from the lawsuit starkly contrast William's narrative, stating that Jane Doe was incapacitated due to medication and could not have given consent.

The lawsuit further alleges that after reporting the incidents to Palm Valley management, Jane Doe's complaint was brushed aside, with instructions to "go through the chain of command." This response was echoed by the findings of Arizona's Department of Health Services (AZDHS), which accused the facility of altering Doe's records after her discharge, painting her as someone who had a history of making false accusations and displayed attention-seeking behavior.

In a disturbing development, Jane Doe found out that she was pregnant following her stay at Palm Valley but sadly miscarried in December. The emotional impact of these events on her is described as potentially insurmountable. Meanwhile, AZDHS investigation findings, cited in a FOX 10 article, paint a grim portrait of oversight failure at the care facility, stating that it "failed to implement policy" to protect residents and properly report allegations of sexual abuse.

A Palm Valley Post Acute spokesperson stated, "We take our patients’ safety, security and wellness seriously..." and indicated that the facility self-reported the issue and is fully cooperating with all investigations. Nevertheless, the facility is facing scrutiny over a potential delay in action, as AZDHS suggests it took weeks before the facility suspended Williams and then only upon the receipt of a letter from Jane Doe's legal representation. AZDHS's probe also determined that the facility failed to ensure resident safety and has cited Palm Valley for various violations. According to Fox 10, Palm Valley has agreed to pay a $2,000 fine in relation to the delayed reporting of the abuse.