Bay Area Woman Gets $3.5 Million Jury Verdict in Rehab Counselor Sex Abuse Lawsuit

In April of 2026, NBC Bay Area reported that a woman had won a jury verdict in a sexual abuse lawsuit against her former counselor at a rehabilitation facility. The verdict was for $3.5 million, and this case illustrates how a sexual abuse lawsuit in the Bay Area can lead to closure, justice, and compensation. If you have experienced similar abuse at the hands of a counselor at a California rehabilitation center, you have every right to discuss your legal options with an experienced sexual abuse attorney.

Sex Abuse Became a “Regular Occurrence” at the San Jose Rehabilitation Facility

The victim sought treatment in 2021, hoping to get help for her drinking problem. She attended a San Jose rehabilitation center, but things immediately went wrong when she was paired with an unlicensed counselor with no credentials. The center later revealed that this counselor was supposed to be working under supervision while gaining enough experience to become a full counselor.

To make matters worse, the victim’s relationship with this unlicensed counselor soon became sexual. The victim says that it began when her counselor leaned in to kiss her while she was crying during one of the counseling sessions. The pair then began having sex in the counselor’s office on a regular basis.

California has laws that prevent any counselor from engaging in a sexual relationship with patients at rehabilitation centers. Unfortunately, these relationships are actually quite common due to a phenomenon called “transference.” When this occurs, the patient may become romantically obsessed with their counselor because of the safety and healing provided by this type of mental health treatment.

Counselors receive special training to address this phenomenon and avoid romantic connections. However, this particular counselor seemingly made no effort to avoid the romantic relationship and may have even encouraged it.

The Romantic Relationship Caused the Patient to Relapse and Become Pregnant

The relationship was extremely harmful to the patient on numerous levels. First, the relationship destabilized the patient’s fragile mental state even further, eventually causing her to relapse and go back to alcohol. She also became pregnant, which caused even greater psychological harm and pushed her back toward the spiral of addiction. Her husband eventually discovered the inappropriate sexual relationship and reported it to the facility. The counselor was then terminated by his employer.

Years later, the plaintiff decided to sue the facility for allowing her to be sexually abused by the counselor. In her lawsuit, she specifically mentioned the “imbalance of power” between her and the counselor. She also pointed out that the facility failed to make sure the counselor was accredited, and it also failed to supervise him.

The lawsuit also pointed out that the owner of the rehab center was frequently intoxicated and that he would appear at the facility while under the influence. According to a report conducted by the California Department of Health Care Services, the facility faced citations for allowing people on the site who behaved unprofessionally. Employees at the center allegedly told the Department about the owner’s strange behavior on the premises.

In his defense, the counselor who engaged in this sexual relationship stated that his supervisor allowed him to work unsupervised despite knowing that he lacked proper credentials. The counselor also told the court that he worked “nonstop” at the facility and quickly faced burnout.

The victim struggled to gather the courage to take this matter to court, and she admits that she wasn’t proud of what happened. Although the relationship might have been consensual, this doesn’t change the power imbalance at play. The experience not only led to her relapse and an unplanned pregnancy, but it also destroyed her marriage. Ultimately, the jury supported her in her pursuit of justice and took her side.

Is a Sexual Relationship Between a Counselor and Patient Illegal in California?

Even if a sexual relationship between a counselor and patient is completely consensual, it is still illegal in California. Under state law, this represents an unethical and unacceptable exploitation of the patient due to the inherent power imbalance between them and the counselor. The same logic applies to most other healthcare providers, massage therapists, and anyone else who might take advantage of one-on-one, intimate interactions under the guise of legitimate medical treatment.

A counselor who abuses this trust can face criminal charges. However, they may also face consequences in civil court during a sexual abuse lawsuit. Perhaps most notably, the facility itself becomes liable for this type of conduct, especially when it engages in negligent supervision, negligent hiring, failure to act on reports of abuse, and other misconduct.

Can a Sexual Abuse Lawyer in the Bay Area Help Me?

If you were abused by a counselor at a rehabilitation center, you may be able to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in the Bay Area and recover compensation. This type of legal action draws attention to the negligence of the rehabilitation center, and it can prevent your abuser from harming anyone else in the future. Your lawsuit can also provide you with considerable compensation, which you can use to cover the cost of mental health treatment. To start a conversation on this topic, contact Mary Alexander & Associates at 415-433-4440.