Adjournment in case of Sask. nurse Marlon Gonzales, accused of sexual harassment
Gonzales wants lawyer at his professional misconduct hearing in Regina
A hearing into a registered nurse who is accused of sexually harassing co-workers will be adjourned for at least several weeks while Marlon Gonzales gets a lawyer.
Gonzales, who has been self-represented, was originally supposed to question witnesses and testify in his own defence today at Day 2 of a disciplinary hearing of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association.
That didn't happen, however.
A number of women with whom the Balcarres RN worked at the Balcarres Integrated Care Centre said he made suggestive remarks and at other times grabbed their hands, tried to kiss them or initiated other physical contact with them.
4 women testify
Four women told their stories at the hearing on Wednesday, followed by Gonzales cross-examining them, suggesting the remarks were misconstrued or that there was playful banter going on.
This morning, however, Gonzales asked the hearing officials to adjourn the case so he could get a lawyer. He said he had one earlier, paid for by his union, but after $5,000 was used up, he couldn't afford it.
The Philippines-born Gonzales said English isn't his first language and yesterday's cross-examination was difficult for him.
There's a lot at stake for him: charged with professional misconduct, he could lose his licence.
Hearing adjourned
After considering his request, the disciplinary committee agreed to the adjournment to let Gonzales obtain counsel.
Officials will have a telephone conference on Oct. 13 to see what happens next, and when.
Before the committee ruled, the lawyer for the complainants, Roger Lepage, was not pleased. He said he dealt with Gonzales very carefully because he did not have a lawyer and had cautioned him about self-representation.
Lepage objects to the four women being cross-examined a second time when Gonzales does have a lawyer. He wants the hearing to pick up where it left off.
Gonzales and his wife said they want the hearing to start again, from the beginning.
The discipline committee says it will decide after the Oct. 13 meeting.