Northwell Health Sleep Center & STARS Rehabilitation Hidden Camera Lawsuit: What Every Patient Should Know

For some patients, Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center and STARS Rehabilitation Center, once trusted names in healthcare, have been thrust into the spotlight for concerning reasons. Recent allegations of an employee secretly recording patients have cast a shadow over these facilities, deeply impacting those who sought care there. If you were a patient affected by such alleged privacy breaches between July 2023 and April 2024, understanding your legal options is crucial. Our firm is actively investigating these serious allegations. We're here to offer guidance and support to patients grappling with the aftermath of these alleged hidden camera incidents. You are not alone, and pursuing justice and compensation is possible.

What Happened: Allegations of Hidden Camera Voyeurism

On April 25, 2024, Sanjai Syamaprasad, a former employee of the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center, was arrested for secretly recording patients of the sleep disorder center and of the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) Center, located in the same building as the sleep center, in Manhasset, NY.

According to law enforcement, between July 2023 and April 2024, Syamaprasad allegedly affixed a hidden camera made to look like a smoke detector using Velcro on the walls inside staff and multiple patient bathrooms within the sleep center and in a public bathroom at STARS Rehabilitation. The cameras reportedly captured recordings of hundreds of individuals, including children, while using the bathrooms throughout this period. Syamaprasad allegedly removed the camera at the end of his shift and downloaded the footage. Notification letters are now being sent to all potentially affected patients.

Understanding the Impact of Privacy Violations

The alleged actions at Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center and STARS Rehabilitation Center represent a serious violation of privacy and trust. When you seek medical care, you expect a safe and confidential environment. The idea that your privacy may have been compromised in such a personal setting can lead to significant emotional distress.

Such incidents can leave individuals feeling vulnerable, anxious, and deeply unsettled. The emotional and psychological impact of knowing you may have been unknowingly recorded can be long-lasting. As trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk stated, "Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies." This highlights the critical need for individuals affected by such events to seek healing and justice.

Your Legal Options: Pursuing a Northwell Health Hidden Camera Lawsuit

If you were a patient at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center or STARS Rehabilitation Center during the alleged period of these incidents (July 2023 to April 2024) and believe you may have been affected, you might have grounds to file a civil lawsuit. These civil actions are distinct from any criminal proceedings and aim to hold institutions accountable for damages you may have suffered.

You may be able to sue various parties in a civil case involving alleged voyeurism, depending on the specific circumstances. These can include:

• Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
• Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and the organization failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, it might also be held liable.
• Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for their employee's actions if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
• Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be liable.
• Government Entities: Government entities might be involved in some cases, mainly if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.

Civil lawsuits for alleged privacy violations allow survivors to seek financial compensation for their damages. While no amount of money can undo the emotional distress you may have experienced, it can help cover expenses and acknowledge the harm caused. This compensation may include:

• Past and future medical and mental health expenses (e.g., therapy, medications)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Do You Qualify for a Free Case Evaluation?

We are actively investigating these serious allegations at Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center and STARS Rehabilitation Center. We are here to offer guidance and support to patients grappling with the aftermath of these alleged hidden camera incidents. You are not alone, and pursuing justice and compensation is possible.

We are seeking individuals who meet the following guidelines to qualify for a free case evaluation:

• You were a patient at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center or STARS Rehabilitation Center.
• You attended one of these facilities between July 2023 and April 2024.
• You have received a letter notifying you that you may have been affected by these incidents.
• You do not currently have an open case with an attorney.

We understand the sensitive nature of these cases and handle them with the utmost compassion and discretion. We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions, including prisons, clergy, schools, and juvenile detention and treatment centers , and are dedicated to helping survivors seek justice. We work on a contingency basis, meaning there is no cost to hire us, and you only pay a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you.

The opportunity to file a lawsuit and seek accountability is a crucial step towards healing. Time is of the essence, and waiting can impact your ability to pursue a claim. Don't let fear or uncertainty prevent you from seeking the justice and compensation you deserve.