PORT ANGELES — A third woman has filed a civil suit against Peninsula Emergency Services, Inc. and plans to join two other women with lawsuits against Olympic Medical Center and a former employee.
In court documents, the woman says former emergency physician Josiah Hill gave her a “battery of medications,” some of which she alleges made her less coherent.
The woman’s allegations match the pattern of behavior other women have alleged in previous civil and criminal suits against Hill, who is facing six counts of indecent liberties by a healthcare provider in addition to a second-degree rape charge. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and $50,000 in fines.
The claim states that during the administration of the medications, Hill forced the woman to touch him and that Hill removed her hospital gown and touched the woman’s chest while he asked her questions pertaining to her relationship status and sex life.
Hill, 39, of Sequim is set to appear in Clallam County Superior Court for a status hearing on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in July. A trial has been set to begin April 10, 2023.
In August, two women filed civil suits against Peninsula Emergency Services, Inc. (PESI) with the intent to file suits against OMC. Those suits were filed on Nov. 23 and Nov. 29.
OMC confirmed it had received the lawsuit filings on Nov. 23.
“We are not commenting on details of active litigation at this time,” OMC Communications Manager Bobby Beeman said.
A third lawsuit is set to be filed later this month, according to Ashton Dennis with Washington Law Group, which is representing the women in the civil suits.
“With regard to civil actions, my clients are filing civil claims against PESI, and two have already filed suit against the hospital, and a third will as well once the tort filing period expires in 60 days,” Dennis said.
Jennifer Moore, the lawyer representing PESI — which dissolved as a company in June — filed responses to the two original suits, claiming that “PESI is without knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth or falsity of the allegations … and thus Defendant PESI denies the same for lack of knowledge.”
Hill was previously an employee of PESI and was put on administrative leave at the request of OMC following the first allegation against him on April 16. On June 30, OMC chose not to renew its contract with PESI, ending a decades-long relationship between the two entities.
On July 26, the state Department of Health announced Hill’s medical license was being suspended pending further legal action, meaning Hill cannot practice medicine in the state until the charges are resolved.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.
