Lawsuit: Woman used hidden camera to record Warren doctor sexually groping her

A woman who alleges a pain relief doctor sexually violated her during repeated visits says she kept quiet about it for months, fearing no one would believe her.

So, she secretly videotaped him during an office visit. And she got a lawyer.

In an unconventional sexual assault lawsuit unfolding in Macomb County, a Detroit woman identified only as Jane Doe is suing Dr. John Pispidikis, alleging he groped her private parts for his own "sexual gratification" while she was his patient at the Spinal Recovery Center on 12 Mile Road in Warren. Her last visit with him was on Feb. 6.

She went in for pain in the rib area, her lawsuit says, but for reasons unknown, the doctor — a chiropractic neurologist who specializes in pain relief — rubbed her vaginal area with his hands outside her jeans, all while the hidden camera was recording.

This case is unique on a number of fronts:

Jane Doe secretly recorded her doctor in a private room, presumably by surreptitiously placing the camera somewhere in the room as the recording captures the doctor's movements from behind. The woman's name is being withheld from the lawsuit, which typically doesn't happen in civil suits where the plaintiff is an adult, and seeking money.

Third, her lawyer tried to serve the doctor in a gotcha-type manner: The attorney waited for the doctor outside his practice on Friday afternoon, and invited media to witness him handing over the lawsuit.

'He's a frickin' bully'

But the doctor never came out.

"I feel like he’s a frickin' bully," attorney Azzam Elder told the Free Press, noting he intentionally chose to surprise the doctor at his office.

"I want to make sure he’s served," Elder said of his tactics, adding he also hopes to show his client that she doesn't need to be afraid.

"He's the person who should be afraid," Elder said, "and ashamed."

As for inviting the media and holding a press conference outside the doctor's clinic, Elder said he wanted to alert the public about Pispidikis's behavior and protect other patients who will be seeing the doctor in the near future. That's also why his client filed the lawsuit, he said.

Pispidikis could not be reached for comment Friday. Calls to his office, cell phone, various associates and a lawyer who represented him in a prior legal matter were not returned. According to Elder, the doctor was unaware of the lawsuit until he got served. The Free Press is not disclosing details of the videotape captured by the patient until the doctor and his attorney have had a chance to view it and respond. The recording has no audio, so it's not known what is being discussed before and during the alleged sexual assault.

The 8-page lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in Macomb County Circuit Court. According to Elder, his client filed a police report with the Warren Police Department earlier this week, and that the case is under investigation for potential criminal charges.

The Warren Police Department confirmed in a press release Friday that a report was filed in this manner, and that the Macomb County Prosecutor's office was notified "due to the media attention."

"This is an open investigation and as such, no additional information can be provided at this time," the statement reads.

Doctor's conduct was 'extreme and outrageous'

According to his website, Pispidikis is one of only four chiropractic neurologists in the state of Michigan.

"Dr. Pispidikis uses a 'whole person approach' when taking care of his patients," the website says. "By combining the very best hands-on-technique, state of the art physiotherapy procedures, and providing the newest and best natural vitamins and mineral supplements on the market today, Dr. Pispidikis is able to help you to accelerate and/or maintain your journey to good health.”

The Spinal Recovery Center, where the doctor works, also is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which seeks more than $25,000 in damages on sexual assault and battery claims. The suit alleges that the Spinal Recovery Center and its staff "were aware of or had knowledge of the inappropriate acts" of Pispidikis and "and failed to use all reasonable efforts to protect the plaintiff."

"Dr. Pispidikis’ conduct was extreme and outrageous," the lawsuit states.

Friend convinces patient to secretly record doctor

According to the lawsuit and Elder, here is what drove the woman to sue:

Jane Doe, who had been a patient at Spinal Recovery Center for a couple of years, saw multiple doctors there for pain in the rib area and was eventually referred to Pispidikis.

The doctor would soon engage in sexual behavior that involved touching her inappropriately, the suit says.

At first, Jane Doe said she was in denial. Then, she said, she got scared and emotionally stressed out.

She said she eventually told a friend, who encouraged her to go back and record the doctor, Elder said, noting the friend also helped his client purchase a hidden camera for her next appointment, which was Feb. 6 — the last visit with the doctor.

Doc 'made sure he was alone in room' with her

"Pispidikis made sure that he was alone in the room with (her) without any medical assistant or any other witness(es), and then asked (her) to stand up against the door to do his so-called examination," the lawsuit states.

This was deliberate, the suit says, alleging the doctor had her stand against the door "in case someone tried to open the door unexpectedly."

While the woman was standing against the door, the suit alleges, Pispidikis "inappropriately touched plaintiff for sexual gratification in a perverted way."

After that visit, the woman stopped going to the center for treatment. But after skipping a few appointments, the suit alleges Pispidikis' office "continuously called aggressively and tried to pressure (her) to come back for follow-up visits, insisting that Dr. John Pispidikis needed to see (her)."

Why woman wants her identity protected

In criminal cases, the names of sexual assault victims are often kept confidential. Minors' names are withheld in both criminal and in civil cases. But in civil matters involving adults who are seeking money, names are rarely withheld, legal experts say.

In this case, the lawsuit explains why the plaintiff wishes to remain anonymous.

"There is a significant social stigma attached to survivors of sexual abuse," the suit states, adding the plaintiff fears that disclosure of her legal name and address may subject her to risk of injury "by the accused doctor "and/or his potential accomplices."

In addition to the fear of retaliation by the defendants, her "emotional distress adds hesitance to maintain this action enforcing fundamental rights if her name was to be forever associated" with the defendants.

The suit says the woman's name will be disclosed to the defendants privately to allow them to assess and defend the claims.

'Most victims ... fear they will not be believed'

Elder defended his client's wishes to remain anonymous.

"Most victims feel powerless and are afraid to even tell family and friends when such a (alleged) crime happens to them," Elder said in a statement Friday. "We all know that a large number of incidents are never reported to the police due to victims feeling afraid, ashamed, and for fear that they will not be believed. Many victims are also afraid of retaliation and future harm for reporting sexual abuse."

The lawsuit also alleges the medical center put the woman in harm's way by, among other things, not making sure a second person was in the room with her when she was being examined.

"A doctor’s office should be a place where patients can safely share their most personal vulnerabilities without having to fear they will be preyed upon by a sexual predator," the lawsuit states. "No one should be violated in such a shameful way by someone who has taken an oath."

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com