Ex-Patient Sues Malibu Rehab Center For Sexual Assault

MALIBU, CA – A Malibu-based rehabilitation center was sued Thursday by a former patient who alleges he was sexually assaulted in 2017 by another patient while he was under sedation. The man's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit names as defendants Passages Malibu and the alleged assailant, Jordan Achterman. The suit alleges negligence, sexual harassment, fraud and battery, and seeks unspecified damages.

Achterman had a history of similar conduct against other patients and was known for his promiscuity and "his frequent and boisterous proclamations of sexual interest in plaintiff and others," the suit alleges. He often was in a "drugged, dazed and confused state" despite Passages Malibu's ban on drug use, according to the lawsuit.

An attorney for Passages Malibu could not be immediately reached for comment.

The plaintiff was admitted to the facility Aug. 7 to begin a detoxification program, the suit states. He was sedated and went to sleep in a private unlocked room, the suit states. He spent the next day learning about the facility while meeting fellow patients and staff members, the suit states.

The plaintiff was again sedated the night of Aug. 8 and fell asleep in his room, but awoke the next morning and found himself naked with Achterman next to him in his bed, the suit states. Achterman told the plaintiff they "had fun last night," the suit states.

After the frightened plaintiff reported what happened to the Passages Malibu staff, he was referred to UCLA Medical Center's Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica, where it was confirmed on Aug. 23 that he was sexually assaulted, according to the complaint.

Suffering from severe distress, the plaintiff checked out of Passages Malibu the next day, the suit states.

The suit alleges that Achterman told other patients he was waiting for the drugs to take effect on the plaintiff before assaulting him.

The Passages Malibu staff had assured the plaintiff that he would be checked on every 15 minutes while he was sedation, but the facility's records show that policy was not adhered to, he suit states.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock