A former ultrasound technician at Hudson Regional Hospital is alleging she was fired in June without cause less than a month after ending a sexual relationship with HRH President/CEO Dr. Nizar Kifaieh.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Thursday, the eight-page, four-count lawsuit alleges that West New York resident Serafima Isachenko began working as an ultrasound technician at HRH in May 2021.
At that time, she was a pier diem employee, which became part time in November and then full time in January.
“Defendant Kifaieh met Plaintiff in October 2021, while Plaintiff was working in
her department. After seeing Plaintiff at a work-related event, Defendant Kifaieh began to text message Plaintiff and persisted in commencing a sexual relationship,” the suit claims.
“Defendant Kifaieh was very persistent and repeatedly insisted that Plaintiff come
to his office to engage in sex while she was at work. Defendant Kifaieh and Plaintiff engaged in a sexual relationship.”
The court filing further contends that Isachenko and Kifaieh engaged in sexual acts while on the premises of HRH, sometimes with the involvement of other female employees.
She eventually ended the relationship this past June, noting that she had wished to do so sooner but was afraid of the possible repercussions, the lawsuit contends.
“Soon after Plaintiff ended her sexual relationship with Defendant Kifaieh, Defendants retaliated against her. On June 30, 2022, Defendants terminated Plaintiff following an alleged incident involving an ultrasound,” her attorney, Thomas A. McKinney, of Castronovo & McKinney, LLC, wrote in the lawsuit.
“Because she had discontinued her sexual relationship with Defendant Kifaieh, Plaintiff, however, was treated differently than her co-workers.”
The suit also alleges that two other workers involved with the alleged ultrasound incident were punished with a warning and one-day suspension, respectively.
Through the court filing, Isachenko alleges she faced a hostile work environment due to her gender, gender discrimination, and retaliation, as well as accusing Kifaieh of aiding and abetting.
As a result, she is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs of suit, pre- and post-judgment interest, and all other relief that the court deems just and equitable.
In a statement, HRH said outside counsel has been hired to conduct a probe into the allegations made by Isachenko.
“Hudson Regional Hospital, the premier hospital providing comprehensive care to Hudson County, and Dr. Nizar Kifaieh have learned that a Complaint was filed against them by a former employee,” they began in a statement.
“We are disappointed that such action was taken as the Hospital is proud of its efforts to provide a nurturing, supportive and safe environment for our staff. The hospital has retained outside counsel to conduct a comprehensive review of the allegations.”
He has a pattern of this wherever he goes. He had an affair with Dr. Meika Roberson of Hoboken University when he was affiliated with Carepoint Health. He’s a predator. His poor wife 🙁
Federal government has a ticket for him to camp. 2 years from now, mark my words. I can’t say anything else right now, but remember this comment. Mr. Dalton and a few others. Yan is already going to camp on a plea deal in the works. You heard it here first.
operating rooms are only cleaned for 5 minutes after each surgery, using operating room as a cash cow extremely overbooking surgeries, mandating staff to work beyond their shift no lunch no breaks. cutting corners to speed up room turnovers from instruments to supplies help the patients and staff help them!!!!
I was fired so he could resume a sexual relationship with my predecessor who was fired for poor performance. He is a dirty man…and Moshe is a criminal. I recorded a great deal of dirt on them.
You know who I am…the feds have all I could aquire…you made yourself know. This will be criminal indictments,Chris included.
Instead of quality work, he is only concerned with being a sexual pre. Hey Chris he screw you too. All of you are on a downward spiral. I have the smoking gun. Chris told me to record everything on my phone….I did. I also taped Bluetooth devices in the conference that still haven’t been found. So much to explain for.
Sealed indictment for a handful of the higher ups. God hates ugly bastards. Shitty fucking quality employees with no experience but know how to manipulate there way around office
He should be fired—End of story. He’s essentially abused his position/power and literally utilized his office in exchange for employment in every position he has ever held in his entire career. Kifaieh is a useless, arrogant loser. The only thing he does is wear slim suits and walk around with his box-colored black hair.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.
also allowing so much corruption to take place at CTOR Academy. Not following CODA protocol and allowing a practice to run without licensed dental assistants.
Illegally allowing patients to be seen by unlicensed dental assistants