Riverside Doctor’s Medical License Revoked After Guilty Plea to Sexual Battery of Patients
A Riverside physician has permanently lost his ability to practice medicine after pleading guilty to sexually battering patients under the guise of treatment, a case that highlights how survivors of medical sexual abuse in California can pursue civil accountability against both the individual doctor and the clinic that employed him. Samer Sannoufi, a physician who practiced at Timeless Skin Care Clinic at 6900 Brockton Avenue in Riverside, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026, to three counts of sexual battery by fraudulent misrepresentation, according to the Riverside Police Department.
The case began June 13, 2023, after detectives received a report of a possible sexual assault at the clinic. As investigators dug in, they discovered a similar complaint against Sannoufi had been reported in Arizona back in May 2012 — years before the Riverside allegations. After investigators publicly identified Sannoufi in a news release, numerous additional patients came forward alleging they, too, had been sexually assaulted or subjected to other inappropriate behavior. Under the terms of his sentence, Sannoufi must register as a sex offender, serve 24 months of probation, complete a sex offender treatment program, stay away from all victims, and pay restitution. Because the offenses occurred while he was acting in the capacity of a treating physician, his medical license has been permanently revoked.
Source: Compass Law Group | Doctor & Medical Professional Sexual Abuse
Key Takeaways
- Riverside physician Samer Sannoufi pleaded guilty June 8, 2026, to three counts of sexual battery by fraudulent misrepresentation and permanently lost his medical license
- A prior complaint against Sannoufi was reportedly made in Arizona in 2012, years before additional California patients came forward — a fact civil attorneys would scrutinize for employer liability
- Survivors of medical sexual abuse can pursue civil claims against the individual physician and, where warranted, the clinic or medical group that employed him
- Depending on the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse, either AB 218 (no deadline for childhood abuse) or AB 2777 (adult institutional assault, deadline December 31, 2026) may govern the filing timeline
What Happened in the Samer Sannoufi Case?
According to the Riverside Police Department, the investigation into Sannoufi began after a single report of a possible sexual assault at his Riverside clinic in June 2023. As the case developed, investigators found that a similar complaint had been made against him in Arizona in 2012 — more than a decade earlier. Once police publicly identified Sannoufi, numerous additional patients came forward describing sexual assault or other inappropriate conduct during appointments. He was initially arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center before posting bail; after more alleged victims came forward, he was arrested a second time.
On June 8, 2026, Sannoufi pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual battery by fraudulent misrepresentation — a charge that reflects abuse committed under the pretense of legitimate medical examination or treatment. He must register as a sex offender, serve 24 months of probation with credit for time already served, complete a sex offender treatment program, avoid all contact with his victims, and pay restitution. His medical license has been permanently revoked because the crimes occurred while he was acting as a treating physician.
Can I Sue a Doctor Who Sexually Abused Me During Treatment?
Sexual battery committed by a physician under the guise of medical care is both a crime and a civil wrong. Patients who were abused this way can file a civil lawsuit against the doctor for sexual battery and related claims, seeking compensation for the physical, psychological, and financial harm caused. A criminal conviction or guilty plea, like Sannoufi’s, does not resolve the civil case automatically — but it can make proving the civil claim significantly more straightforward, since many of the underlying facts have already been established.
Beyond the individual physician, an attorney will also investigate whether the clinic, medical group, or hospital that employed the doctor bears civil responsibility. This is especially important in cases like Sannoufi’s, where an earlier complaint reportedly existed years before the Riverside allegations came to light — a fact that raises serious questions about what the clinic or any prior employer knew, and when.
Is a Medical Clinic Liable for a Doctor’s Sexual Misconduct?
Under California law, an employer — including a medical clinic or group practice — can be held civilly liable for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or negligent retention when it knew or should have known about a risk posed by an employee and failed to act. If a prior complaint, red flag, or pattern of concerning behavior existed and the clinic did not properly screen, monitor, or remove the provider, the clinic itself may share liability alongside the individual doctor. This theory often becomes central to a medical sexual abuse case, because a clinic or medical group typically has far greater financial resources than an individual physician to satisfy a judgment.
⚠️ Important Deadline: December 31, 2026
California’s AB 2777 lookback window for adult sexual assault claims closes on December 31, 2026. If you were an adult when you were sexually assaulted by a healthcare provider or other individual affiliated with an institution — such as a medical clinic — on or after January 1, 2009, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit even if the standard statute of limitations would otherwise bar your claim, but only if you file before the deadline.
Schedule a free, confidential consultation with Compass Law Group, LLP — we’ll evaluate your case and explain your options. No win, no fee.
What Is the Deadline to File a Civil Claim in Medical Sexual Abuse Cases?
The applicable deadline depends heavily on the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse. If the abuse occurred while the patient was a minor, California’s AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminates the statute of limitations entirely, meaning a survivor can file a claim at any age with no deadline. If the survivor was an adult and the abuse was enabled by an institution — such as an employer, clinic, or medical practice — AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) may apply instead, and that law’s revival window for previously time-barred claims closes on December 31, 2026. Because these timelines differ significantly, survivors should not assume they are too late to file without first speaking to an attorney.
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What Compensation Can Patients Recover?
Survivors of medical sexual abuse may recover several categories of civil damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses such as therapy and counseling costs, medical treatment connected to the abuse, and any lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and emotional distress, including the breach of trust inherent in abuse committed by a treating physician. California Civil Code §52.4 provides additional remedies specifically for sexual harassment and abuse, and punitive damages may be available where a clinic’s conduct rose to the level of malice or conscious disregard for patient safety.
- Therapy, counseling, and long-term mental health treatment costs
- Medical expenses connected to the abuse
- Lost wages tied to the psychological impact of the abuse
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages against a clinic that ignored known warning signs
- Compensation for the breach of medical trust and its long-term effects
Medical Professional Sexual Abuse — California Patient Rights | Source: CDC, CA Legislature | Compass Law Group
Source: Compass Law Group | Doctor & Medical Professional Sexual Abuse
How Compass Law Group Builds Your Case
Compass Law Group, LLP has recovered more than $250 million for California clients and represents survivors of sexual abuse by doctors, therapists, and other medical professionals on a No Win, No Fee basis. Our attorneys investigate not just the individual provider’s conduct, but the full chain of responsibility — including what a clinic, medical group, or licensing history reveals about missed warning signs. If you were sexually abused by a physician or other healthcare provider in California, you have the right to a free, confidential consultation to understand your options.
Steps to Take After Medical Sexual Abuse Disclosure
- Report the abuse to law enforcement and to the Medical Board of California (mbc.ca.gov)
- Seek medical and mental health care from a different, trusted provider
- Document everything you can recall — dates, staff present, and any records from the appointment
- Ask for a copy of your medical records from the clinic, which may support your claim
- Do not sign any settlement or release from the clinic’s insurer without speaking to an attorney first
- Contact a California medical sexual abuse attorney for a free, confidential consultation
Q: Can I sue a doctor who sexually assaulted me during a medical appointment?
Yes. Sexual battery or assault committed by a physician during what is supposed to be legitimate medical treatment is a serious civil wrong in addition to a crime. In California, this can support a civil lawsuit against the doctor personally for sexual battery, and often against the clinic or medical group that employed him for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention — particularly where, as in the Samer Sannoufi case, an earlier complaint in another state was reportedly on record before additional California patients came forward.
Q: Is a medical clinic liable if my doctor abused me during treatment?
A clinic or medical group can be held civilly liable if it knew or should have known about a risk posed by a physician and failed to act — for example, by ignoring a prior complaint, inadequate background screening, or failing to supervise a provider properly. This is a negligent hiring, supervision, or retention claim, separate from any claim against the doctor individually. An attorney can investigate what the clinic knew and when, which is often central to holding the employer accountable.
Q: What is the deadline to file a civil claim for sexual abuse by a doctor in California?
If the abuse occurred while you were a minor, California’s AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminates the statute of limitations entirely — you can file at any age. If you were an adult at the time and the abuse involved an institution such as an employer or medical practice, AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) opened a revival window for previously time-barred claims, but that window closes December 31, 2026. Because deadlines vary by circumstance, survivors should speak with an attorney promptly to determine which timeline applies to their situation.
Q: Does a permanently revoked medical license mean I automatically win a civil case?
A revoked license and a guilty plea are powerful evidence, but a civil case is still a separate legal process that must be pursued on its own. That said, an admission of guilt in a criminal case, like Dr. Sannoufi’s guilty plea to sexual battery by fraudulent misrepresentation, can make proving a related civil claim significantly more straightforward, since the underlying facts are no longer in serious dispute. A civil attorney can use the criminal record, licensing board findings, and additional evidence to pursue full compensation.
Q: What compensation can patients recover in a medical sexual abuse civil case?
Patients may recover economic damages such as therapy and counseling costs, medical expenses connected to the abuse, and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Where a clinic or medical group is also liable for negligent supervision or hiring, additional compensation may be available given the employer’s greater financial resources. California Civil Code §52.4 also provides remedies specifically for sexual harassment and abuse.
Q: How do I report a doctor for sexual misconduct in California?
You can file a complaint with the Medical Board of California (mbc.ca.gov), which investigates licensed physicians and can suspend or revoke a medical license, and you can also report the conduct to local law enforcement to pursue criminal charges. Filing a report with the Medical Board and law enforcement does not require you to also file a civil lawsuit, but doing so can help build a record that supports a future civil claim if you decide to pursue one.
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If you were sexually abused by a doctor or other healthcare provider in California, Compass Law Group, LLP can help you understand your rights against both the provider and their employer. No Win, No Fee.
