by DETROIT, Mich. — Legal troubles are mounting for a former nurse at the Detroit Medical Center’s Sinai-Grace Hospital, as six new lawsuits, including a whistleblower complaint, have been filed accusing him of sexual assault and workplace retaliation.
The filings, announced Wednesday by Todd Flood Law and Fieger Law, bring the total number of civil suits against Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios to seven. He is already facing criminal charges in three cases and has been ordered to stand trial on all counts.
Between the civil and criminal complaints, nine women have accused Figueroa-Berrios of sexual assault. Attorneys Todd Flood and James Harrington said at least six more cases are under review by prosecutors, and they are actively investigating 10 additional potential victims.
“There is an avalanche of evidence to show that this predator, Mr. Berrios, was on the prowl for close to a decade,” Flood said. “The acts that he took were swept under the rug.”
Sinai-Grace Responds to Allegations
Sinai-Grace Hospital has maintained that it prioritizes patient safety and has strict procedures for screening employees and handling misconduct.
“We do not condone any type of abuse and are cooperating fully with law enforcement,” said Tammy Battaglia, a hospital spokesperson.
Details of the New Lawsuits
Among the latest filings:
- A pregnant woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by Figueroa-Berrios while giving birth in December 2016.
- Another patient says she awoke naked in her hospital bed after a 2020 car crash, claiming Figueroa-Berrios had been staring at her body earlier that night.
- Two separate lawsuits filed October 28 and Wednesday accuse him of sexual assaults that allegedly took place in August 2025.
- A female coworker claims he attacked her in a porta potty during a work event.
- A former Sinai-Grace employee filed a whistleblower suit, saying she was fired after reporting that a patient accused Figueroa-Berrios of assault on August 25.
That same employee also alleged that Figueroa-Berrios physically assaulted and humiliated patients — including forcibly scrubbing open wounds and making lewd sexual remarks such as offering a “golden shower.” She said hospital officials ignored repeated warnings about his behavior.
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Defense Pushes Back
Figueroa-Berrios’s attorney, Deborah Schlussel, has denied all allegations.
“He’s known as a very loving, caring nurse,” Schlussel said. “Some of these allegations were made by highly intoxicated people who could not remember any details — and now suddenly they remember things that never happened.”
Pattern of Targeting Vulnerable Patients
Attorney James Harrington claims Figueroa-Berrios followed a disturbing pattern, allegedly targeting intoxicated patients, those with mental health challenges, or individuals under medication influence, allowing him to discredit their accounts.
“We are just scratching the surface of how broad this is,” Harrington said. “The epic proportions of how widespread this was are absolutely unimaginable.”
The case has prompted growing outrage from victims, families, and advocates calling for stronger accountability within healthcare systems to prevent similar abuse in the future.
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