(CBS DETROIT) – A Metro Detroit chiropractor and his workplace are at the center of a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Attorney Azzam Elder said he filed a lawsuit Friday against John Pispidikis and Spinal Recovery Services on behalf of his client, a former patient.
“After speaking with the client, we had no choice but to make this public and let people know he is a predator,” Elder said.
Elder said Pispidikis, a chiropractic neurologist and nurse practitioner, was treating his client for serious neck and back injuries she suffered in a car accident.
According to the lawsuit, Pispidikis allegedly became more aggressive and touched his client inappropriately.
“What you saw on video was her last visit, which was recently on February 6,” Elder said.
Elder said his client confided in a friend about the way Pispidikis touched her during her visits. That friend instructed her to buy a hidden camera and record it.
Elder said the video shows Pispidikis placing his shirtless client against the door of the room. In the video, he said Pispidikis repeatedly grabbed his client between the legs.
“He provided no medical services; he did whatever he wanted for sexual gratification, and that is simply unacceptable, and the world needs to know who he is, and he needs to be held accountable. This person is a sexual predator, and he has nothing to do with practicing medicine,” Elder said.
Elder said his client received repeated calls after she stopped showing up for her appointments.
“Even after she stopped seeing him, he had his office call her several times, and they told her, ‘Dr. Pispidikis needs to contact you. He needs to see you,'” Elder said.
Because of this medical professional’s alleged actions, Elder fears there may be more victims who are too afraid to speak out.
‘He’s a danger. If they know anyone else who is a witness or a potential victim, they should contact police or contact our office. We need to make sure we put him out of business, or at least hold him accountable because he shouldn’t be practicing medicine,” Elder said.
Warren Police confirmed that Spinal Recovery Services is under investigation, and these findings will be turned over to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Elder also said he personally served the lawsuit on Spinal Recovery Services around noon Friday.
CBS Detroit visited Spinal Recovery Services on Friday, but they were closed. CBS Detroit also reached out to Pispidikis for comment, but our message was not returned.
Gino Vicci
