In 2019, women's rights attorney Tamara Holder and her co-counsel Johanna J. Raimond spearheaded the litigation against convicted sex offender OBGYN Fabio Ortega. For the past five years, Tamara and Josie, and their team at Romanucci & Blandin, have settled dozens of cases against Ortega and his former employer NorthShore University HealthSystem, now called Endeavor Health.
Tamara Holder and her team filed three lawsuits on March 29, 2024, two against Ortega and Endeavor Health, and one against Ortega and Swedish Covenant.
In Cook County, each lawsuit can be filed as a Jane Doe upon petition of the court but you must file your own individual lawsuit as this is NOT a class action.
WARNING: YOU DO NOT HAVE UNLIMITED TIME TO FILE A LAWSUIT. YOU ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE YOU REALIZED YOU WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED TO FILE SUIT.
Please email intake@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have additional questions.
Tamara Holder and her team have filed and settled DOZENS of lawsuits against sex-offender OBGYN Fabio Ortega, NorthShore University HealthySystem (and Swedish Covenant). With our firm, you are not a number, but rather a woman who will have the best team fighting for her, in a pursuit of justice against a sex offender. Call us at any time 312-440-9000 or email: intake@tamaraholder.com
Sexual assault can leave lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars on victims—it instills fear in those it impacts. As a result, victims may feel hesitant or frightened to report incidents of sexual misconduct.
While fear or hesitation is understandable, it’s important to understand when your report may no longer hold legal weight. Knowledge is power, and to help you make confident decisions, let’s look into what you need to know about the federal statute of limitations for sexual harassment.
It is typically the timeframe within which a victim can file a legal claim against their alleged harasser. Under U.S. federal law, specifically under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an individual has 180 calendar days from the day the harassment occurs to file a charge. The individual must file these charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
In states with an agency that enforces laws like Title VII, the filing deadline is 300 calendar days from the date of the harassment. It’s crucial to understand that these laws strictly enforce these deadlines, and missing them often means losing the right to pursue a case under federal law.
The federal statute of limitations for sexual harassment operates on a “last incident” rule. This rule means the clock for the filing deadline starts ticking from the date of the last incident of harassment. For example, the deadline extends with each new occurrence of harassment if a victim continues to experience it. However, an individual cannot include past incidents outside the statute of limitations in their claim. They can only claim incidents that occurred within the legal timeframe.
It’s understandable that you may be afraid to speak out if you find yourself a victim of sexual harassment, but you must act promptly if you can.
Your first task is to document each incident in detail, including dates, locations, what was said or done, and whether there were any witnesses. You should also inform your employer or HR department about the incidents if you feel safe doing so. Most organizations have procedures for reporting and dealing with sexual harassment and must investigate your claims.
Remember, retaliation against an individual for reporting sexual harassment is against the law. Therefore, you should not fear losing your job or facing any form of backlash for speaking up about harassment. Report any retaliation you experience to your lawyer immediately if applicable.
Before making any legal moves, it’s important to consult a professional. Laws surrounding sexual harassment can be complex, but a sexual misconduct lawyer can guide you through these steps with care and respect. They can also help you better understand the statute of limitations and help you file a timely claim.
Taking these steps can be daunting, but it’s crucial to stand up against harassment. You have the right to feel safe.
Settled: Jane Doe 42 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega
Attorney Tamara Holder her team of brilliant lawyers have settled the case of Jane Doe 42 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega.
For more information about the case, please see the following YouTube video:
Please email: contact@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have any information about Fabio Ortega, NorthShore or Swedish
Settled: Jane Doe 41 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega
Attorney Tamara Holder her team of brilliant lawyers have settled the case of Jane Doe 41 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega.
For more information about the case, please see the following YouTube video:
Please email: contact@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have any information about Fabio Ortega, NorthShore or Swedish
Settled: Jane Doe 40 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega
Attorney Tamara Holder her team of brilliant lawyers have settled the case of Jane Doe 40 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega.
For more information about the case, please see the following YouTube video:
Please email: contact@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have any information about Fabio Ortega, NorthShore or Swedish
Settled: Jane Doe 33 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega
Attorney Tamara Holder her team of brilliant lawyers have settled the case of Jane Doe 33 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega.
For more information about the case, please see the following YouTube video:
Please email: contact@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have any information about Fabio Ortega, NorthShore or Swedish
Settled: Jane Doe 32 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega
Attorney Tamara Holder her team of brilliant lawyers have settled the case of Jane Doe 32 v NorthShore University HealthSystem & Fabio Ortega.
For more information about the case, please see the following YouTube video:
Please email: contact@tamaraholder.com or call 312-440-9000 if you have any information about Fabio Ortega, NorthShore or Swedish
NOTE: This content was originally published by WBEZ Chicago. Read the full article here.
The doctor-patient relationship requires trust. What happens when a patient feels like a doctor hasn’t upheld professional responsibility?
In two separate cases in Illinois, dozens of women have accused their OBGYNs of committing medical and sexual battery while undergoing exams.
The cases raise questions for patients. The relationship between a patient and a doctor requires trust, clear communication and integrity. So, what happens when a patient feels like a doctor hasn’t upheld professional responsibility? What is a patient supposed to do if touched inappropriately or made to feel uncomfortable?
That case has had wider repercussions. In June of 2022, Tamara Holder, an attorney representing 36 victims, filed six new lawsuits against Ortega and his former employers – NorthShore and Swedish Covenant. The suits allege that hospital officials allowed Ortega to continue working despite being under criminal investigation for sexual assault.
In August of 2022, a suburban OBGYN, Dr. Vernon Cannon, was accused of sexual battery by two women while working at Duly Health and Care in Arlington Heights. Additional misconduct lawsuits accuse Cannon of performing medical procedures while intoxicated.
In these cases, women are trying to hold doctors and the institutions that hired them accountable for alleged crimes.
When it comes to obstetrics and gynecology care, what should patients know before seeing their doctor? How can patients stay safe? WBEZ posed these questions to Kavita Shah Arora, head of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Ethics Committee and Jody Madeira, a professor and Co-Director of the Center for Law, Society and Culture at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law.
