SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Over 100 women will be allowed to take a 77-year-old Provo, Utah, gynecologist to court after the Utah Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s dismissal of their 2022 sexual assault civil lawsuit on Thursday.
Dr. David Broadbent, OBGYN, faces allegations dating back to the 1970s in his personal practice and in affiliation with Utah Valley Hospital and Timpanogos Regional Hospital. In the lawsuit, the nearly eight dozen Jane Does suing Broadbent presented allegations of unwanted exams and sexual assault during those examinations.
In 2022, Utah’s 4th District dismissed their civil lawsuit, claiming they should have been filed under a medical malpractice action. Today, Aug. 8, the Utah Supreme Court reversed that ruling, noting the state’s Malpractice Act does not apply to the patients’ claims.
One listed Jane Doe who agreed to talk to ABC4.com, Heather Prinz, said today’s ruling was a huge relief for her and her fellow plaintiffs — many of whom have met and discussed their alleged assaults. Up until today, she had experienced frequent disappointment after coming forward. While she had hoped telling her story would help her and the other victims gain support, Prinz said she instead felt guilt, shame, embarrassment, self-blame, and self-anger.
“Doesn’t anybody care, or aren’t you listening or did you read the allegations?” said Prinz. “Like, there are 94 of us coming forward with this case, and it gets dismissed? Then you don’t stand a chance as one woman, or two women, or three women, or even 93 women — if 94 isn’t enough.”
Another plaintiff, Crystal Wylie, told ABC4.com she felt relief and validation for all the women when she heard the news. Like, Prinz, she sat online through the morning waiting for the ruling to come down while having doubts it would go their way.
“We’ve got quite the tight-knit group going on right now,” Wylie said.
Wylie said many of the plaintiffs have a group on Facebook where they share their stories and lend one another support.
“Just come forward and let people know what’s going on — tell your story,” said Wylie. “‘Cause nothing’s going to be done if you don’t. Nothing’s going to change if you don’t.”
“You’re going to a hospital, you are receiving medical care. You absolutely have a right to expect that you will not be intentionally harmed by doctors who are literally there to help you,” said Prinz.
We’ve reached out to Broadbent’s legal team for comment. We have not heard back but will update this post with any response.
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