LOS ANGELES (CN) – An acupuncturist at a Kaiser-contracted clinic touched a patient inappropriately and pulled her pants down, put a needle in her back and left the treatment room door open with a bright light focused on her private areas, she claims in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

M.C. sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Wooree Alternative Medical Group, Inc. and acupuncturist Jung Chang, alleging sexual battery, false imprisonment, severe emotional distress, negligent hiring, supervision and retention of employee, sexual contact by a physician, sexual harassment, sexual battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery.

According to the lawsuit, M.C. visited Wooree, a Kaiser contracted facility, for an acupuncture appointment on Dec. 17, 2017.

“As the plaintiff was facing down, Jung opened her gown to examine the lower back for needle replacement but to plaintiff’s shock and surprise, Jung pulled her pants lower than usual and necessary which made plaintiff very uncomfortable,” she says in her complaint.

“After placing the needle on plaintiff’s back, June widely exposed her with bright light focused on her private area(s) and left the main door of the treatment room open and plaintiff could see other patients and staff passing by and looking inside at her,” it continues. (Parentheses in complaint.)

M.C. wanted to end the treatment and told Jung to remove the needles, she says. Jung did so, and one removal was especially painful, M.C. says. Jung asked M.C. where the pain was and began rubbing her back and buttocks without permission, then pulled her pants down lower, she claims.

M.C. “suddenly felt an inappropriate touch in or on her private area(s),” the complaint states. (Parentheses in complaint.)

M.C. seeks general, special and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, interest, costs of suit and a jury trial. She is represented by Eric Sapir in Los Angeles.