News briefs

Tuesday, March 7, 2000 | 11:29 a.m.

Summerlin medical facility targeted

A Las Vegas woman and her husband have filed a lawsuit against Summerlin Medical Center claiming its negligence lead to her sexual assault almost one year ago.

According to the lawsuit, filed Monday in District Court, the woman was a patient at the hospital when she was "attacked, sexually assaulted, battered numerous times and otherwise injured and terrorized" by Roy Alan O'Guinn, 38, on May 27, 1999.

The hospital, the lawsuit claims, didn't have enough guards to patrol the hospital's grounds or patients' rooms. In addition, the hospital's security staff wasn't properly supervised and lacked necessary training.

O'Guinn was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The woman is seeking unspecified damages.

According to police, O'Guinn, a North Las Vegas resident, walked into the hospital room of one patient, fondled her and then left when she paged a nurse for help. He then went into the room of another patient, who was older than 65, and sexually assaulted her.

O'Guinn was detained by hospital security and he was charged with five counts of sexual assault of a victim over 65, one count of battery with intent to commit sexual assault and one count of open and gross lewdness.

Doctors later determined O'Guinn wasn't competent to stand trial.

Police records show O'Guinn was convicted of sex crimes in California in 1980 and in Nevada in 1989.

Las Vegas attorney Rob Murdock, who filed Monday's lawsuit, filed a similar one on behalf of the other alleged victim in December.

LV woman sues over car accident

A Las Vegas woman is suing the Metropolitan Police Department on behalf of her daughter, who was injured in a 1998 officer-related car accident.

According to the lawsuit, filed Monday in District Court by Las Vegas attorney Adam Kutner, Grace Ferreri and her young daughter, Carissa, were driving east on U.S. 95 on Oct. 9, 1998, when they were involved in an accident with another eastbound vehicle.

The other vehicle was being driven by Officer Dale Franc, who was driving in a "negligent, careless, reckless and wanton," manner, the lawsuit states.

As a result of the accident, Carissa Ferreri sustained neck and back injuries, the lawsuit states.

Franc was also named in the lawsuit.

The Ferreris are seeking unspecified damages.

Woman survives two-day ordeal

NORDEN, Calif. -- A California woman who was missing for two days at a Sierra ski resort had nearly given herself up for dead when rescuers found her safe and in good condition Monday afternoon in Norden, Calif.

Sara Norvill, 37, of Danville, Calif., said she ate snow and spent two nights in a snow cave she dug and lined with leaves and pine needles about 2 miles outside the Sugar Bowl ski area.

She was conscious and able to walk when a snowmobile team found her in the Onion Creek drainage about 1 p.m. Monday.