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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Parents Suing Employee Of Eastern State Hospital

From Staff Reports

The parents of a disabled woman are suing a former Eastern State Hospital employee, claiming he forced the patient to have oral sex.

Royce M. Lynch, 57, was convicted of attempted second-degree rape in the case more than a year ago.

The civil lawsuit was filed in Spokane County Superior Court last week on behalf of the victim’s parents, Roy and Lois Westerdahl.Listed damages include loss of love and companionship and injury to the parent-child relationship.

The victim apparently was a willing participant in the sex act, which took place at the Medical Lake hospital on Sept. 12, 1993. However, she isn’t capable of making such decisions on her own, her psychologist said.

She is mentally and physically disabled due to a head injury and demonstrates a lack of judgment and impulse control, according to a police report. Lynch, sentenced to 60 days in jail, couldn’t be reached for comment.

, DataTimes