Warren chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting patient in civil lawsuit

A Wayne County woman is suing a Macomb County chiropractor and the center where he works, alleging she was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions.

The woman, who filed the lawsuit under the name "Jane Doe," went to seek treatment for pain in her ribs in February from John Pispidikis, a chiropractic neurologist and nurse practitioner at the Spinal Recovery Center in Warren. The lawsuit claims Pispidikis touched the woman against her will for his own sexual gratification.

His staff said he was not available to speak to a reporter Friday and he did not return a message left for him.

Azzam Elder, the attorney representing the woman, said at her first his client was in denial but "after sharing what happened to her with her friend she realized what happened was shockingly real and criminal."

She was scared to come forward at first, Elder said, worried he would deny the allegations and call her a liar. So she recorded their next appointment. The video, provided by Elder, shows the woman standing up against the door while Pispidikis forcefully presses in between her clothed legs, around her upper thighs and on what appears to be her genitals. It does not have audio, so there is no context as to if Pispidikis gave any explanation for what he was doing or asked for consent.

Elder contends Pispidikis did not explain what he was doing or ask for consent; he told her to stand by the door and lift her shirt up. Her pain was not in her thigh or genital area, so there's no reason for him to be touching her there, Elder said.

"We had medical professionals look at (the video), and they tell you, everybody concludes that this person took an oath to help people to heal, and what he's doing is harming people," said Elder, who referred to Pispidikis as a "predator."

The woman had been seeing another doctor at the Spinal Recovery Center for several years, who referred her to Pispidikis. She stopped going in February and Pispidikis' office "aggressively" called continuously and tried to pressure her into coming back, according to the lawsuit.

Elder said he isn't sure exactly how many times the woman saw Pispidikis, but it was two to six times. The sexual touching began at the later appointments, he said.

Attorney Nina Korkis said the Spinal Recovery Center failed to protect the woman from sexual assault. Spinal Recovery Center also is named in the lawsuit, as the woman claims they knew of his inappropriate actions and did not do enough to protect her.

Elder said Warren police are investigating the report, which the woman made this week. Warren Police Commissioner Charles Rushton said Thursday he could not comment on the ongoing investigation.

Elder encouraged anyone else who was been sexually assaulted by Pispidikis to contact his office. He said his client primarily filed the lawsuit to get it into the public eye so they "know that this is a sexual predator."

"She started to feel that this is not just about her, that she needs to report it to protect other people," Elder said.

kberg@detroitnews.com