$2.2 Million Verdict Against Charlotte Doctor Who Sexually Assaulted Patients During Exams

Dr. Fidelis Edosomwan owned and operated Americare Health Plaza Medical Center in Charlotte, where patients came to him for routine care. Two women, both former patients, alleged he used those exams as an opportunity to sexually assault them. One described being molested during an initial visit in 2013, then assaulted again in 2015 during a pap smear, the second incident occurring with a nurse and her child present in the room. She reported the conduct to clinic staff immediately after.

The civil case went to trial in February 2018 before Judge Eric Levinson in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Plaintiffs were represented by Alex Heroy and Kavita Desai of James McElroy and Diehl in Charlotte, along with Don Higley of Lanier Law Group. Defendants were defended by counsel from Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick.

At trial, the scope of alleged misconduct became fully visible to the jury. Nearly 40 women had come forward with similar accounts, and several testified during the proceedings. When pressed about the volume of accusers, Edosomwan attributed their claims to 'Me Too syndrome.' Jurors did not accept that framing.

On February 14, 2018, the jury returned a verdict of $1.1 million in actual and punitive damages for each plaintiff, totaling $2.2 million. The emotional weight of the case was apparent: jurors were reported crying and embracing after the verdict, and later emailed the attorneys. The trial court had excluded the plaintiffs' psychological expert under Daubert standards, meaning the verdict rested on the testimony of the women themselves and corroborating witnesses.

At the time of the civil verdict, criminal charges against Edosomwan were still pending. He did not face criminal trial until years later. In February 2023, nearly eight years after charges were first filed, Edosomwan accepted a plea deal that reduced felony charges to four misdemeanor simple assault convictions. He received a suspended sentence, 18 months of probation, and credit for four days served. His North Carolina medical license remained active as of 2024, though an interim agreement continued barring him from seeing patients.