A chiropractor allegedly placed hidden cameras in the bathroom of a Valencia clinic where he worked and inappropriately touched patients, according to a lawsuit filed by several patients.
The chiropractor, a part-time employee of a clinic called United Chiropractors, was arrested in June and released on bail.
The lawsuit alleges that small cameras were placed in bathroom cabinets in chiropractors’ offices and targeted restrooms used by patients and staff.
An employee discovered the camera and management reported the incident to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
After discovering the situation, the company emailed patients in June, according to screenshots of messages included in the lawsuit. The email said the camera was installed between May 6 and 8 and may have captured images of about 20 people.
“We are deeply disturbed by this situation, immediately conducted an internal company investigation and have been fully cooperating with law enforcement,” management at United Chiropractic said in an email.
The email went on to say that a part-time employee of the Valencia clinic was arrested as part of the police investigation, without providing a name.
Nicholas Vanderhyde, a chiropractor at the Valencia clinic, was arrested June 4 on suspicion of possessing obscene material depicting a person under 18 years of age, according to the indictment.
One former patient listed in the complaint, Alexandra F., said she recently visited the chiropractor’s office and her 7-year-old daughter used the restroom. She asked to speak with someone at the chiropractor’s office but received no response, the complaint states.
Alexandra F. did not know if the camera captured images of her daughter or other family members.
“I remember Dr. Vanderheide high-fiving my kids and patting them on the back and letting them try out some of the instruments there to see how they worked,” Alexandra F. said in a statement accompanying the lawsuit. said in a statement. “From what I now know, I have been deeply traumatized by the disgusting violations against so many people and families. [including my own] Went to this clinic.
The lawsuit involves 17 patients, including four minors, who alleged negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment, invasion of privacy and other charges.
Vanderheide also performed treatments outside of what a chiropractor would normally do, including massages of the upper, inner thighs that touched the patient’s genitals, the lawsuit states. Another patient claimed he made sexually harassing comments about her body, the complaint states. Other patients said they received similar treatment that amounted to sexual abuse, the lawsuit said.
The patient alleged that management at United Chiropractic ignored Vanderheide’s behavior and his unwanted advances and sexual harassment of female employees.
Janna Trolia, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the syndicate’s “failure to respond has only exacerbated our clients’ fears and concerns.”
A spokesman for United Chiropractic said in an email to The Times, “We are not authorized to discuss ongoing legal matters.”
It was unclear whether Vanderheide had legal representation. He was arrested by officers with the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Department and released on bail, jail records show.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
