UF Health and Rapist Sued
DAYTONA - The University of Florida (UF), UF Health & Shands, Halifax Hospital Medical Center, Trident Jiu Jitsu and convicted rapist Joel Theodore Gingery, 61, have been named as co-defendants in a new lawsuit filed by the victim (plaintiff) in Volusia County Circuit Court.
Filed on August 21, the 72-page civil complaint alleges a total of 40 civil charges such as sexual battery, assault, battery, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, negligence, negligent policy making and safety protocols, negligent supervision and negligent security.
The lawsuit seeks over $50,000 in damages.
In August 2022, Ormond Beach Police Department officers arrested Gingery on charges of false imprisonment and sexual battery. At the time of the attack, Gingery was running the business Trident Jiu Jitsu while simultaneously employed as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) by UF Health at Halifax Hospital, the lawsuit indicates.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was a student of Gingery at Trident Jiu Jitsu for two years leading up to the sexual battery. Gingery invited her to Halifax Hospital under the pretense of “discussing a sponsorship” for the gym and upcoming competitions. The lawsuit states he was “on duty, wearing hospital scrubs and his official Halifax identification badge.”
The lawsuit states, “At approximately 10:00 p.m., and while on duty, [Gingery] met Plaintiff at the ‘Fountain entrance’ of the hospital and used his professional key card to escort her to the 4" floor. Despite Plaintiff being a non-employee, [Gingery] was able to accompany her through the hospital, including access to secure elevators, without being questioned by hospital personnel or triggering any security alerts.”
Gingery led the plaintiff into what the lawsuit describes as a room “which was keypad-locked from the exterior door, isolated from public view, and accessible only by employees.”
Once inside, Gingery allegedly barricaded the door using a table so it could not be opened from the outside. Gingery then sexually assaulted and raped the plaintiff.
In August 2023, the Florida Board of Nursing formally revoked Gingery’s nursing license, according to the lawsuit.
In March 2024, a jury found Gingery guilty on two counts of sexual battery but he was acquitted of false imprisonment, court records show. Criminal cases have a higher burden of proof than civil cases. It’s possible for a civil jury to find Gingery liable for false imprisonment while a criminal jury found him not guilty.
In June 2024, Judge Elizabeth Blackburn sentenced Gingery to 20 years in prison.
According to the lawsuit, Gingery’s employment position “provided him with the means, opportunity, and authority to commit the sexual assault and battery of Plaintiff.”
The plaintiff is represented by Kelly H. Chanfrau of the Chanfrau & Chanfrau Law Firm.
Trident Jiu Jitsu has since rebranded as Insomnia Jiu Jitsu, but it is still known as Trident Jiu Jitsu in official legal documentation. Gingery is no longer involved.
