LOUIS, Mo. — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and attorney Kayla Ferrel Onder, a nationally recognized advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and leader of OnderLaw’s Sexual Abuse practice, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of over 30 sexual abuse survivors against SSM Health DePaul Hospital and former physician Craig A. Spiegel.
The lawsuit alleges that survivors were subjected to decades of sexual abuse owing to the gross negligence of SSM Health in failing to protect patients and visitors on its premises. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, highlights a systemic pattern of inaction by the hospital – ignoring repeated warnings, complaints, and red flags about ongoing threats to patient safety.
The allegations span over a decade, and include detailed accounts of sexual assaults suffered by the plaintiffs at the hospital’s facilities. Despite a documented history of criminal activity by Dr. Spiegel on the SSM Health campus, the lawsuit claims that the defendants failed to implement adequate security measures, enforce mandatory reporting protocols, and address clear evidence of misconduct.
“These survivors placed their trust in a healthcare institution to provide a safe environment and were instead met with systemic failures that enabled abuse,” said Crump. “This lawsuit is not just about accountability — it’s about ensuring no one else has to endure what these brave individuals have suffered.”
The complaint alleges that SSM Health DePaul Hospital ignored internal staff concerns, police reports, and even its own policies designed to safeguard patients. Spiegel continued to operate unchecked on the hospital campus despite numerous allegations of sexual misconduct affecting patients as young as five years old.
“Institutions like SSM have a moral, legal, and ethical obligation to protect their patients,” said Onder. “This case shines a light on the consequences of inaction and calls for immediate reform to prevent future harm.”
The plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $25,000 for each individual, citing severe emotional distress, psychological trauma, and ongoing medical needs resulting from the abuse.
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
ABOUT KAYLA FERREL ONDER
Kayla currently leads OnderLaw’s Sexual Abuse practice, advocating on behalf of survivors across the country. Kayla has spent over a decade forging national relationships and has solidified partnerships with Sex Abuse litigators across the country. With these partnerships, the OnderLaw team has represented survivors of sexual abuse across the country, holding abusers and enabling institutions legally accountable and delivering nearly one billion dollars in recovery.
