OLDHAM CO., Ky. (WHAS11) -- — A fifth woman has come forward and will be a part of the lawsuit suing Richard Coleman and Friendship Health and Rehab for sexual harassment.
Coleman, 41, is accused of sexually groping, touching and assaulting his coworkers over the course of at least two years at the Oldham County care facility.
Four women are already a part of a lawsuit filed last week, but Attorney John Phillips who is representing them told WHAS 11 News on Monday that a fifth woman will be a part of it soon.
“They haven't been added to the lawsuit yet, but will subsequently be filing an amended complaint or subsequent litigation,” Phillips explained.
The lawsuit claims Coleman made comments about having sex with infants and the elderly. He is also accused of cornering some coworkers and forcing himself on a 17-year-old in a linen closet.
Though the women in the lawsuit are former co-workers, Phillips doesn't believe they're the only victims.
“We do have specific evidence that Richard Coleman had abused residents.”
Phillips told WHAS 11 News that Coleman was fired in August and, despite the sexual harassment reports to Friendship Health management, he got a job at the Forest Springs Health Campus in Jefferson County.
“Those types of complaints should've gone into their file, but who knows what has been said when they do investigations or someone moves to a new job, sometimes they give them neutral references, sometimes they give them no reference at all.”
Coleman was arrested in August, charged with sexually abusing a coworker on several occasions. He was criminally indicted in November, and has pleaded not guilty.
Police are investigating similar incidents reported by other employees, as well as reports that involved residents of Friendship Health and Rehab.
“We hope that someone like Richard Coleman who has had a history of sexual harassment is never put in a position again where he can continue to victimize others,” Phillips said.
Joe Effinger who represents Friendship Health and Rehab released this statement to WHAS11 News:
Friendship Health and Rehab takes great pride in serving the community as a corporate resident of Oldham County, and it is fully committed to the health, welfare and safety of its residents and employees. Friendship respectfully declines to comment in any fashion concerning ongoing litigation and looks forward to continuing its mission to serve and enrich the quality of life of all its residents and employees.
►Contact reporter Heather Fountaine at hfountaine@whas11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@WHAS11Heather) and Facebook.
