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COURTS OnTrack settles sex abuse case Client alleges counselor intimidated her into having sex Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 5:51 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 5:51 PM » Social News A lawsuit alleging an OnTrack counselor pressured a client into having sex in his office has been settled. Jim Huegli, a Portland lawyer representing the victim, said, “The case was settled, and the settlement terms are confidential.” Huegli declined to disclose any details but said all parties had agreed to the settlement. He said the agreement has not yet been filed with the court. The original lawsuit sought almost $2 million in damages. A separate whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former OnTrack employee who brought the alleged sexual misconduct to the attention of her superiors is still working its way through the courts OnTrack, a nonprofit organization that provides treatment for recovering drug addicts, is named in both lawsuits, as is its director, Rita Sullivan and a former employee, Jeremy Braun. The suits allege Braun had sex with clients he worked with while at the agency. Patrick Wylie, Braun’s Portland attorney, said, “I’m not going to comment on the lawsuit.” A Portland lawyer representing OnTrack, Kurt Peterson, could not be reached for comment Monday. The lawsuit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court by the victim alleges Braun met with her April 4, 2014, for treatment for her drug addiction and to improve her parenting skills. The victim was sent to OnTrack at the suggestion of the Oregon Department of Health. According to the suit, filed April 30, 2014, Braun began asking the woman questions of a sexual nature after briefly discussing her drug addiction. When the patient became uncomfortable with the line of questioning, the suit alleges, Braun intimidated her, telling her he was in control of her drug treatment. Braun also stated he was friends with the victim’s DHS caseworkers, the suit alleges. “Jeremy Braun continued asking (the victim) more personal and sexual questions while continuing to reiterate that he was in control of how long she would stay in drug treatment,” the suit alleges. “He then asked (the victim) to have sex with him in the office.” Out of fear she would lose her children and would face other implied consequences, the victim agreed to have sexual intercourse with Braun, the suit alleges. OnTrack and Sullivan have denied many of the allegations but have attempted to distance themselves from the allegations against Braun, according to other court documents. In a motion filed with the court Dec. 10, 2015, OnTrack and Sullivan stated other allegations “are directed against Mr. Braun, therefore, no answer is required of OnTrack.” Braun’s answer to the complaint, dated June 24, 2015, denies all the allegations against himself other than to say he was employed with OnTrack from Oct. 1, 2012 until May 2, 2014. In a court transcript of texts between Sullivan and Kristi Hagey, deputy director of OnTrack Inc., they discussed ways to deal with the unfolding crisis. “OMG. Cannot fathom what u went thru,” Hagey texted May 2, 2014. “We have all been through hell,” Sullivan responded. In other texts, OnTrack employees discussed the need for a greater effort to train employees about sexual harassment policies. Beth Heckert, Jackson County district attorney, said a criminal case against Braun was dropped in February 2015 after the victim couldn’t be located for two separate grand jury dates. The charges that the grand jury was going to consider were second-degree sex abuse, third-degree sex abuse and sexual harassment, Heckert said. In a separate whistleblower lawsuit, former OnTrack employee Chavala Bates alleges that Braun was also involved in two other sexual encounters with clients. Bates alleges that OnTrack and Sullivan engaged in retaliatory behavior toward her after she disclosed the information to her superiors. OnTrack and Sullivan have denied the allegations in Bates' lawsuit. A trial for the whistleblower suit is scheduled for Jan. 28. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 5:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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