Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
By: Valerie Santillanes Journal Staff Writer

Suit Over Affair Also Names Doctor’s Wife
An Albuquerque woman is suing her former psychiatrist and his wife, claiming the doctor engaged her in a sexual relationship while she was his patient — and that his wife knew or should have known of the situation.

Rose Wynell Quackenbush, represented by attorney Bruce Pasternack, has filed suit against Dr. John Bennett II and his wife, Judith, who worked as Bennett\’s bookkeeper, for unspecified damages, including punitive damages.

It\’s a first-degree felony punishable by up to 18 years in prison for therapists to have sexual relations with their patients.
Bennett and his attorney, Charlotte Mary Toulouse, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Quackenbush, 47, sought treatment from Bennett in November 1994 for severe and chronic depression, and he continued to treat her until this past summer. She alleges that Bennett initiated a sexual relationship, telling her that his \”dual relationship with her was therapeutically appropriate.\”

In addition, the lawsuit states that neither the doctor nor his wife told Quackenbush that Judith Bennett\’s former husband had AIDS until after the doctor engaged her in a sexual relationship. The man died in September.

The lawsuit also alleges Judith Bennett knew her husband was seeing Quackenbush, that he had a \”custom, habit or practice of engaging patients in sexual contact,\” and that she failed to warn Quackenbush of the \”dangers.\”

The lawsuit states Bennett ended the relationship with Quackenbush in June but failed to refer the woman to another therapist. It also alleges that Bennett encouraged her to lie to any future therapists regarding their relationship and \”to not disclose what he had done to her.\”

Pasternack said in a telephone interview that Quackenbush installed a video camera in her home and began recording her phone calls with Bennett.