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2 More Women Accuse Doctor Of Improper Touching

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The number of women accusing a local physician of sexual misconduct has increased to three.

Two more filed lawsuits against Gunwant Dhaliwal on Monday in Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Court. The women, ages 21 and 41, both accuse Dhaliwal of fondling their breasts during examinations.

The Tampa Tribune is withholding their names because of the nature of the allegations.

Their lawsuits follow a claim filed in May by a third woman who said Dhaliwal did the same thing to her. The woman, identified only as Danielle in court filings, was about to start work as a physician's assistant with Dhaliwal.

Fort Lauderdale lawyer Michael Feiner, who is representing the two women who filed suit this week, initially became involved because of his friendship with Danielle's family. The two other women contacted him after they heard about the initial lawsuit.

'The guy ... needs to be stopped,' Feiner said Tuesday. 'I guess no one else really wanted to take the risk of putting in the time and effort and receiving no money, but I don't really care about that. I think it became personal when it happened to my friend's little sister.'

Dhaliwal operates the Gulf View Walk-in Clinics, which has offices in New Port Richey, Spring Hill and Holiday. He opened his practice in 1993 and is board-certified in internal medicine, according to state records.

Dhaliwal, 46, also holds staff privileges at hospitals in Hudson, Spring Hill and Tarpon Springs. Reached at his New Port Richey office Monday, he denied the allegations and referred questions to his attorney, Jeff Goodis.

'I can tell you we don't know what the motivation is to make these allegations,' Goodis said. 'Here's a guy that's been practicing medicine for 25 years and is proud of his practice. This is an affront to his reputation, and he intends to defend his practice, his person and his reputation.'

Dhaliwal has not been charged with a crime, although at least two of the women have filed reports with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Danielle told a deputy she was hired as a physician's assistant and went to Dhaliwal's New Port Richey office Feb. 12 to meet with him. She said Dhaliwal was demonstrating a dermal abrasion technique on her when he put his hands down her shirt and into her bra.

The 21-year-old woman told investigators she was groped when she went to the clinic in May after a car accident. The 41-year-old woman was in Community Hospital last year when Dhaliwal fondled her breasts, according to her complaint.

This isn't the first time Dhaliwal has had to defend himself against claims of inappropriate touching. Two former employees filed separate lawsuits against him - one in federal court, one in state court - in 2001, saying they were subjected to unwanted touching while they worked for Dhaliwal.

Both women settled their cases in 2002.

A 31-year-old New Port Richey woman filed a report with police in 2001, saying Dhaliwal grabbed her breasts while he was examining her. That woman didn't file a lawsuit, and the report didn't lead to charges.

Despite the allegations, records with the Florida Department of Health show Dhaliwal's medical license as active and clear.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (352) 521-3156 or tleskanic@tampatrib.com.

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