Editor's Note: This article has been updated to link to the most recent press release from Tamara Holder Law, add appropriate links to the representing attorneys' websites, and clarify the distinct legal strategies and defendants named by the different law firms involved.
Nine more women filed suit Tuesday against Dr. Mark Mulholland, the Richland obstetrician-gynecologist whose years of work at Kadlec and Providence facilities is already under heavy scrutiny. The latest complaint accuses Mulholland of sexually abusive exams, invasive touching and performing major procedures without proper consent. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the new filing adds to a growing stack of civil cases and state disciplinary charges that have been building for years.
The new lawsuit was first reported by KIRO 7. According to the station, the complaint names Providence-affiliated Kadlec Regional Medical Center along with Mulholland and was filed in King County Superior Court. KIRO 7 also outlined the core allegations and identified the law firms involved in bringing the new case.
Tamara Holder Law announced the filing in a news release and said attorneys Elizabeth Hanley and Tamara Holder together represent roughly 170 former patients, according to PR Newswire. Separately, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala (PCVA) says it represents more than 95 survivors connected to Mulholland's care, underscoring just how large the potential pool of cases has become.
What plaintiffs allege
The complaints lay out a wide spectrum of alleged misconduct. Plaintiffs say Mulholland made overtly sexual comments, probed into patients' sex lives in unnecessary detail and conducted exams they describe as overly invasive. In some instances, women allege he carried out significant procedures they had not agreed to. Recent filings include claims of an unnecessary C-section, removal of fallopian tubes without consent and a hysterectomy with mesh implantation performed without explanation of associated risks. These allegations are detailed in the current complaint, according to KIRO 7.
State medical charges
The Washington Medical Commission entered the picture on April 29, 2025, filing a formal Statement of Charges that recounts multiple patient accounts and alleges unprofessional conduct. The commission cites inappropriate touching and sexualized remarks that it says were unrelated to legitimate medical care. According to the Washington Medical Commission, the charges stem from incidents between December 2022 and August 2024 and allege violations of state rules intended to protect patients from abuse.
Hospitals' response
Kadlec and Providence have declined to discuss specifics of the litigation, citing the ongoing investigations, but say they are cooperating with state regulators. Kadlec told local outlets that "Dr. Mulholland is not practicing at our clinic," a statement reported by NBC Right Now.
Lawyers say institutions ignored warnings
The different legal teams are approaching accountability through distinct filings. While Tamara Holder and Elizabeth Hanley are pursuing lawsuits against both Dr. Mulholland and Providence-Kadlec, PCVA has focused its current lawsuits exclusively on the institutional level rather than naming Mulholland individually. Despite the different approaches, both firms contend that hospital systems failed for years to act on red flags raised by staff and patients, allowing the alleged behavior to continue unchecked. "The callous dismissal of years of complaints enabled Dr. Mark Mulholland to serially abuse hundreds of women and girls over more than a decade," PCVA partner Mallory Allen said on the firm's website. Emphasizing a similar need for institutional accountability, Holder stated in a recent PR Newswire release that "institutions have a duty to protect patients, not shield abusers."
Legal outlook
The Washington Medical Commission's action opens an administrative track that can result in penalties ranging from fines to restrictions on practice or a full license revocation, as outlined in the Washington Medical Commission statement. Mulholland has the opportunity to defend himself at an administrative hearing, while the civil lawsuits progress in King County Superior Court. That process could stretch on for months or even years as survivors seek both financial damages and sweeping institutional reforms.
According to attorneys Tamara Holder and Elizabeth Hanley, more women continue to step forward, and the cascade of suits is intended not just to address past harm but to push hospitals to respond differently when complaints about provider misconduct arise. For now, both the commission's investigation and the expanding web of civil cases appear set to be the main arenas where questions of responsibility and accountability will be tested in the months ahead.
