Ex-chiropractor to begin trial in sexual-molestation lawsuit

Bill Gang

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

Six years after a rash of sexual-molestation complaints were filed by patients of then-Las Vegas chiropractor Jeffrey Donner, the first of seven lawsuits against him is going to trial.

Opening statements were scheduled for today in District Judge Mark Denton's courtroom on charges by one woman that she was fondled by Donner under the guise of a massage during a treatment session.

The allegations in this case, being broadcast by Court TV, are mirrored in the remaining cases, but Denton ruled the details of each instance should be viewed by separate juries rather than combined.

The lawsuits are only the latest of Donner's problems.

Donner, 34, was given probation in January 1997 on criminal charges of sexual misconduct involving six of his patients after a plea bargain that should prevent the current Florida resident from ever again being a chiropractor. Since then he has had to register as a sex offender.

At his sentencing, he showed no remorse and made no apologies to his victims -- such statements could have been used against him in the civil trials.

He already had tried to minimize his culpability by pleading "no contest" rather than "guilty" to a gross misdemeanor charge. Under Nevada law, pleading guilty in a criminal case is an automatic admission of liability in any companion civil case.

The presiding judge, however, declared Donner to be guilty and the resulting probation, which was part of a plea bargain, ended the criminal case.

The plea bargain let Donner avoid a trial on 15 criminal charges, including sexual-assault counts that could have put him in prison for life. The incidents occurred during 1992 and 1993 at his Las Vegas and North Las Vegas offices, according to the lawsuits.

Three of the victims spoke at the sentencing hearing, telling District Judge James Brennan of the difficulty they have had living with the embarrassment and memory of their ordeals.

Donner's attorney at the time, Oscar Goodman, argued that there are two sides to the story. Donner maintains he was victimized by the women.

"My children and my family have suffered," Donner said during a brief statement.

Police have defended the credibility of the victims by noting that they did not know each other yet related similar tales of molestation.