A federal class-action complaint filed this month accuses rheumatologist Dr. James Curtis Roberson of carrying out repeated, inappropriate exams and improper touching during patient visits. The suit claims more than 100 people in Maryland and Virginia are part of the case, which names MedStar Health alongside Roberson and seeks more than $5 million in damages. Led by patient LaShawn Basham, the filing has sparked fresh scrutiny of how big health systems monitor and respond to concerns about provider behavior.
Allegations outlined in the complaint
According to the complaint, Roberson allegedly performed repeated exams without clear medical need, made extensive full-body contact and engaged in what the filing describes as "inappropriate touching" during routine appointments, as reported by FOX 5 DC. Basham says she began seeing Roberson around 2021 or 2022 for treatment of a chronic autoimmune condition and only later came to view the conduct as improper, the complaint states. Several patients cited in the filing describe a pattern of behavior that emerged over multiple visits before they decided to seek legal representation.
The case and where it was filed
Court records show the case, Basham v. MedStar Health, Inc., was filed on April 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and lists LaShawn Basham as the lead plaintiff, according to Justia Dockets & Filings. The complaint invokes federal diversity jurisdiction, seeks more than $5 million in damages and names MedStar Health and James Curtis Roberson II as defendants. The filing lists attorneys including Philip C. Federico on the plaintiffs' side.
MedStar's response and timeline
MedStar Health told local reporters it "will never tolerate inappropriate behavior by our providers" and said it suspended Roberson when concerns were first raised in early October 2024, according to FOX 5 DC. The health system said it regrets any pain alleged patients and families may have experienced and that it moves quickly when potential misconduct is reported. Beyond confirming the suspension, MedStar has not publicly detailed any additional internal disciplinary measures.
Legal context and what comes next
The lawsuit is still in its early civil phase. If plaintiffs seek class certification, the court could eventually group many of the individual claims together during discovery and motion practice. The federal docket labels the case as a diversity personal-injury action and notes that plaintiffs have requested a jury trial, according to the court listing. MedStar has faced other legal scrutiny in recent years, including a 2024 complaint by the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged ADA violations, which shows how large health systems can juggle multiple, unrelated legal battles at the same time.
What this means for patients
The complaint and docket describe how patients may join or follow the litigation through the plaintiffs' attorneys, while separate reports to state medical boards could trigger independent reviews of a physician’s license. Civil cases like this often take months or years, typically moving next into depositions and document discovery. We will continue to track court filings and official statements as the case develops.
