Eastern State Hospital faces lawsuits

MEDICAL LAKE — Eastern State Hospital and the Department of Social Human Services is now involved in two lawsuits initiated by two former employees, both of which have trial dates set in August and October, according to Spokane County Court documents.

One of the lawsuits has been filed by Sheri Hendon, who is a licensed psychiatric social worker formerly employed by the hospital and alleges that she was retaliated against for filing a complaint against a supervisor, Deanna Bemus, and was also subject to an ongoing hostile work environment, court documents said.

Perhaps most bizarrely, court do...