Five women have filed a lawsuit against the doctor charged with sexual battery and child pornography after authorities say nude images of patients were found on his phone.
Attorney Jessica Pride said she filed a single lawsuit on behalf of five clients, who claim they were former patients of Dr. Jeffrey Abrams, a physician practicing in the area for 40 years.
Pride’s clients are among eight woman who say Abrams took advantage of his position while working for the Volunteers in San Diego free clinic in El Cajon between June 2010 and June 2014.
An alleged victim known only as “Jane Doe 1,” who is part of the lawsuit, claims on Jan. 4, she went to the clinic for belly button pain.
During the exam, the uninsured woman says Abrams told her to take off all her clothes, and then he inserted his gloved finger inside her vagina and asked, “You have pain?”
He then instructed her to stand before him, pushed her hair away from her exposed breasts and took five pictures of her using a cellphone, Jane Doe 1 alleges.
State investigators say when they searched Abrams work phone, they discovered 1,300 of his female patients’ buttocks, breasts and vaginas. A video shows a patient touching herself in the exam room with Abrams, a search warrant says.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The State Medical Board suspended his license, and Abrams was arrested on Nov. 7.
He pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious victim, eight counts of sexual battery of an unconscious victim and one count of possession of child pornography. The last charge stems from nude pictures of an 8-year-old girl allegedly found on his phone.
During his arraignment, the prosecutor said Abrams faced similar allegations in the early 1990s, but no disciplinary action was taken.
On Tuesday, the suspect posted his $1.5 million bail to get out of jail. He faces a 40-year sentence if convicted on all charges.
After his arrest, Pride told NBC 7 Jane Doe 1 was afraid Abrams would find out who she was and potentially harm her.
