In 2018, a jury discovered that a researcher from Oregon Health & Science University’s upper echelons had grabbed another employee’s crotch while they were in an elevator together.
The Multnomah County jury found Dr. Andras Gruber guilty of sexual assault and causing emotional distress, and Amy Koski was awarded $1 million in damages in a 9-3 vote.
On May 4, 2018, Koski went out for pizza with Gruber, a former professor of biomedical engineering at the university who worked across the hall from him at the South Waterfront campus.
Koski claimed in the complaint and trial testimony that the researcher interrupted her lunchtime because she made an unacceptable statement about adultery during the meal. He joked about his third leg when the topic of podiatry came up, Koski recalled. She claimed that he suddenly touched her in the elevator after lunch.
Gruber, who is now 71, has long insisted that he was wrongfully booted out of his $160,000-per-year job and used as a scapegoat. Gruber asserted that the lawsuit was driven by money and was founded on false information.
Anne Foster, the plaintiff’s lawyer, stated in an interview that the jury simply didn’t buy what he was selling. However, she had to wait seven years to receive justice in that courtroom.
After the verdict on Monday, February 24, 2025, plaintiff’s lawyer Anne Foster, second from left, and Amy Koski, center, take a group portrait with other legal personnel.A courtesy picture
Under Oregon House Bill 3293, a 2019 law that increased the statute of limitations for adult sexual assault cases to five years, the case is among the first to go to trial.
According to Foster, the evidence demonstrated that Koski, who is now 46, quickly told a friend and another doctor about the assault, and the friend agreed to help Koski avoid Gruber.
However, according to court documents, Koski first thought that if she informed human resources, she would have to resign. According to the lawsuit, she came forward in 2021 when the university redistributed office space, which meant she and Gruber would have to work closely together.
Later that year, Gruber was charged with third-degree sexual assault by law authorities when OHSU engaged a workplace investigator and forwarded the matter to them. In January 2023, the case was dismissed by the prosecution due to their failure to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Gruber later filed two complaints against OHSU, alleging that officials still in the throes of a nationwide TikTok Doc crisis had wrongfully defamed him and failed to promptly investigate claims made against a well-known physician on social media.
Both cases were dropped.
During the trial, Foster claimed her client was just one day off, while Gruber’s lawyer claimed Koski had fabricated a day planner documenting the lunch.
Gruber had dined at Pizzicato on May 4, 2018, according to GPS and credit card information given to the plaintiff’s lawyer just before the trial.
Since 2004, Gruber had been employed at OHSU. He developed the biopharmaceutical business Aronora, which is currently exploring blood illnesses, and he still serves as its chief medical officer.
Koski is still employed by OHSU, albeit in a different division.
According to Kevin Sali, Gruber’s lawyer, his client chose not to comment.
According to a statement, OHSU has protocols in place to prevent harassment, but the representative declined to comment on the specific situation.
Sara Hottman, the spokesperson, stated that harassment of any type is not tolerated at OHSU. We urge all staff members, students, patients, and guests to report instances of harassment.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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