Woman sues clinics, former Twin Cities psychiatrist convicted of sexual assault

A 37-year-old Plymouth woman is suing two mental health clinics and an imprisoned Twin Cities psychiatrist who was convicted of sexually assaulting her while she was his patient.

The medical malpractice lawsuit filed in Hennepin County District Court names as defendants Marie Casey Olseth, doing business as West End Consultation Corp. in St. Louis Park; Lake Elmo-based Bachmann and Associates, doing business as Counseling Care; and the perpetrator, 39-year-old Gavin P. Meany.

The suit alleges sexual abuse and medical negligence against Meany and various acts of negligence by the clinics. The suit goes on to say that the woman has and continues to suffer "severe and permanent psychological and emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, and other psychological injuries" as well as setbacks in "performing her normal daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life and will incur expenses for psychological treatment, therapy, and counseling."

Attorneys for Meany and Bachmann and Associates declined to comment Monday, while the attorney for West End Consultation Group was not immediately available for comment.

At least $50,000 in damages is sought, a standard figure at the outset of these types of suits. The woman is represented by Hall Injury Law, which lists several multimillion-dollar court victories for plaintiffs alleging sexual abuse in recent years.

Meany was sentenced in September in Dakota County District Court after pleading guilty in January 2020 to four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He will serve the first five years of his term in prison, then be under court supervision for life.

The sexual contact first occurred in Meany's office in St. Louis Park and later in his Burnsville office operated by Bachmann and Associates, and at his Apple Valley home.

The St. Louis Park allegations led to separate charges in Hennepin County. Meany has a Sept. 27 date for a trial to start.

At the time of the charges in Dakota County, Meany had been working since January 2018 as an independent contractor with Counseling Care, with offices in Lake Elmo and Burnsville. He was later fired. Meany also was a medical officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

His license to practice medicine was suspended by the state soon after he was charged in Dakota County. Meany had been a licensed doctor in the state since 2012. His license was revoked upon conviction.

Meany's online biography said he completed his psychiatry residency at the University of North Dakota, his medical school studies at the University of Sint Eustatius in Barbados and his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota.