Lawyer Robert J. Mongeluzzi’S Firm Issues Statement On Behalf Of Client, A Victim In Bucks County Penn Medicine Nurse Sexual Misconduct Case

PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 6, 2017) – Robert J. Mongeluzzi, Esq., of Saltz, Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, P.C., and members of his team are representing the teenage girl who Lower Makefield, PA police say was secretly and repeatedly videotaped without her consent by Licensed Practical Nurse James Close while she was in his care at the Penn Medicine Dermatology practice in Yardley.

Mr. Mongeluzzi said Saltz, Mongeluzzi, & Bendesky, P.C., on behalf of the victim and her family, is encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Lower Makefield police at 215 -493-4011. He said the victim was severely traumatized and has asked his firm to do all it can to ensure that what happened to her and several others cannot happen again.

“Our client is a courageous young woman who was betrayed and violated by the actions of Nurse Close,” said Mr. Mongeluzzi. “In full cooperation with law enforcement, we will be investigating, among other circumstances, the breakdown in care that provided the opportunity for this male nurse to be alone with a vulnerable, unclothed female patient – a minor – at the Penn Medicine dermatology practice in Lower Makefield at 1000 Floral Vale Blvd.”

Attorney Adam J. Pantano, also of SMB, noted that Penn’s own director of the Scattergood Program for Applied Ethics of Behavioral Health Care, commenting on the case, has told the press, “There’s a whole house of cards built on a patient’s privacy and expectation of confidentiality. When a bad actor violates that code of trust, it brings everyone down.”

Mr. Pantano and Mr. Mongeluzzi said their review will likely lead to the filing of a civil action to hold Nurse Close, and any others who may be responsible, fully accountable for their actions.