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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A certified orthopedic spine physician assistant dubbed as one of the ``Faces of Cedars-Sinai'' is being sued for sexual harassment by a nursing assistant who works with him at the Marina del Rey hospital.
Aline Morales' Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit names as defendants Shawn Bond and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. She alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, assault, battery, civil rights violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
``Cedars has been informed of the unwanted conduct, but has failed to take corrective measures to eliminate it and turned a blind eye to the extreme and pervasive behavior that has occurred during plaintiff's employment,'' the suit states.
Morales seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit brought Monday. A Cedars-Sinai representative did not immediately provide comment.
Morales was hired in 2015 as a certified nursing assistant and hoped to become a registered nurse, the suit states.
``Cedars publicly claims to believe in giving all of (its) employees a voice and assures employees like plaintiff that it will ensure that your voice is heard,'' the suit states. ``Plaintiff's employment experience at Cedars, however, regretfully proves otherwise.''
Since December 2018, Bond, who Cedars-Sinai ``espouses to be one of the `Faces of Cedars-Sinai,' engaged in a continuous sexually charged course of conduct towards plaintiff, creating a hostile work environment,'' according to the suit.
Morales attended a Cedars-Sinai-affiliated holiday party at a restaurant near the hospital in December 2018 and was standing near a booth when Bond unexpectedly came up from behind her and ``smacked her on the buttocks,'' the suit alleges.
Morales turned, saw Bond silently staring at her and told him not to touch her, the suit states.
``Bond unapologetically walked away without providing a verbal response,'' the suit states.
In July, while working her shift at Cedars-Sinai, Morales was on a break when Bond slapped her buttocks again after she said ``Hey, girl'' to him, causing her to spill hot water on her hand that resulted in a first-degree burn, the suit states.
Bond then grabbed Morales by one shoulder and said, ``You called me girl. I was going to punch you,'' according to the suit, which further states the incident was witnessed by another hospital employee and was recorded on a security camera.
Morales told her bosses what allegedly occurred and they advised her to inform human resources, the suit states. Morales believes the hospital staff subsequently discussed having Bond attend sexual harassment classes and take time off from work, but return the next month, the suit states.
``At no time was plaintiff asked by Cedars human resources whether she was okay to work in the presence of Bond or whether she was amenable to transfer to another unit,'' the suit states. ``Instead, Cedars human resources only contacted plaintiff to meet and close the investigation.''
Bond returned to work on Aug. 24 in the same unit as the Morales and when her attorney expressed concern for the plaintiff's safety, the hospital retaliated by putting her on leave, the suit states.
``Plaintiff's complaints to Cedars have been fruitless,'' the suit states.
Morales has suffered ``substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits'' as well as ``embarrassment, humiliation, mental and emotional pain and distress,'' the suit states.