Essex County Woman: Home Health Aide Poured Boiling Water On My Head

An Essex Fells woman has filed a Superior Court lawsuit, alleging that her husband’s health aide severely beat her and poured boiling water on her head.

Joan Hughes-Slakter and Edmund Slakter, former residents of Manhattan, have filed a lawsuit against Zoe International Homecare and its parent company, Celebrities Group Inc., Courthouse News Service reported.

According to court documents, the Slakters are alleging that in 2013, while they were living in Manhattan, Zoe International Homecare sent Christopher Iwaniuk, a certified health aide from Lakewood, to live with them four days a week and care for Edmund.

In 2014, after working for the Slakters for around a year, Iwaniuk allegedly confronted Joan and made verbal accusations, then punched her in the jaw.

The woman fell to the floor and Iwaniuk allegedly continued to kick and punch her, pouring boiling water on her head twice, the lawsuit alleges.

Hughes-Slakter suffered 11 broken ribs, severe burns, chipped teeth and a concussion as a result of the attack, she alleges.

Joan now lives in Essex Fells, while Edmund is a patient at the Alaris Health Center in West Orange, court documents state.

They are seeking punitive damages for assault and battery, negligence and other claims, Courthouse News reported.

Iwaniuk is currently serving a five-year sentence in New York for attempted murder, attempted assault and assault, according to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision inmate database.