LISBON Court drops suit against doctors

LISBON -- A lawsuit filed last summer by two women who said they were sexually molested by their physician has been dismissed.
An order issued earlier this week by Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court noted without elaborating that the case had been settled.
Attorneys representing parties in the case were unavailable Friday.
Christy Mott of Weirton, W.Va., and Jamie Rodgers of Wellsville filed a lawsuit in July 2002 seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Named as defendants were Dr. Anil Bajaj, then of Woodmere, Ohio, and Robert W. Beatty, M.D., Inc., doing business at 15613 Pineview Drive, East Liverpool.
The lawsuit alleged that on July 27, 2001, the women made separate visits to Dr. Bajaj for medical care while he was practicing medicine as an employee of Beatty's.
During those examinations, Dr. Bajaj inappropriately touched and fondled them, actions that violate Ohio law, the lawsuit stated.
The medical business was negligent, in part, for failing to properly supervise its medical staff, the lawsuit said.
Dr. Bajaj was charged with sexual battery in criminal court in the allegations involving Rodgers. He also was charged in criminal court with gross sexual imposition in the allegations involving Mott.
Dr. Bajaj was convicted by a jury in December on both charges and was sentenced to four years in prison.