Government settles lawsuit brought by woman who alleged sexual assault at IHS hospital

Rosebud hospital a source of controversy for Indian Health Service

The federal government has agreed to settle a case brought by a Native American woman who sued Indian Health Service alleging that she was sexually assaulted by an employee.

The settlement with Loretta Garner requires the government to pay her $72,000. As part of the agreement, the government did not admit fault or liability in the incident.

Garner alleged in her lawsuit that she was involved in an automobile accident on Dec. 17, 2017. She was taken by ambulance to the Rosebud IHS hospital. During the encounter, she was wheeled on a gurney to an X-ray room by an employee identified as Scott Wilson. Her lawsuit says that they were not accompanied by a chaperone or female employee.

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