New victims accuse JBLM military doctor of sexual assault
JOINT BADE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - New military members are accusing an Army doctor of sexually assaulting them, as a plea deal for more than 40 separate patients is working its way through the military justice system.
Four additional men filed federal tort claims against the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, accusing the Army of negligence.
Major Michael Stockin is facing criminal charges in connection to his conduct. Stockin, an anesthesiologist at a pain management clinic on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was arraigned on abusive sexual contact and indecent viewing charges tied to 41 victims in February.
Members of the military have accused Stockin of touching their genitals under the "guise of medical treatment." Those men later questioned the interactions.
In the latest claims filed this week, four victims echo previous statements that victims taking part in the criminal proceedings have made to investigators.
One man wrote that he’s no longer able to put on his Army uniform without breaking into a panic attack, or crying.
"I thought I was strong, that nothing could break me," the man referred to as John Doe 19 writes in a legal document. "This experience shattered my life as a husband, father, and senior, non-commissioned officer."
Christine Dunn, a lawyer with Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, said she is now representing a total of 22 individuals who are pursuing action against the military in civil court.
The total of military members seeking damages from the U.S. Army is large, as additional members are represented by Ryan Guilds, a lawyer with Arnold & Porter.
Dunn told FOX 13 Seattle she believes more victims will come forward. Among her new filings, two things stand out — one victim wasn’t a patient of Major Stockin, and another was abused two months after the Army had previously said it removed Stockin from duty due to abuse allegations.
"That is very troubling if he was still allowed to see patients months after they knew about these allegations," said Dunn.
Dunn told FOX 13 Seattle that the danger was broader than originally known, as one of her clients was abused during his wife’s appointment with Major Stockin. He explained that Stockin ordered him to expose his genitals while his wife was drugged, an order he obeyed due to Stockin’s rank.
According to Dunn, the abuse continued when the man had his own surgery months later.
"He was not on the case, but he came to the surgery center and, while my client was still groggy from the anesthesia, he lifted up his gown and exposed his genitals and viewed his genitals, which there was no medical reason for that," said Dunn.
A spokesperson for the military told FOX 13 that they have a longstanding departmental policy to not comment on potential litigation, but noted: "The Army received four new claims this week and is reviewing them for legal sufficiency before investigating their factual allegations."
According to the spokesperson, they will not make a decision on how to respond until they've had a chance to fully investigate the latest claims made against Stockin.
As for Stockin, he is due back in court in January for the latest on the criminal court proceedings.
Attorneys tell FOX 13 Seattle that a plea deal is in the works. Stockin had previously pleaded not guilty, and could have faced hundreds of years behind bars.
Stockin has also worked on military installations in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. To date, no victims have come forward from other installations outside JBLM.
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