FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Makarem & Associates filed a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit on April 24th, 2026, in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, against SELECT CS PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., CEDARS-SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM, FERNANDO AGUSTIN SALAZAR, et al. Case number: 30-2026-01565374-CU-NP-CJC
LOS ANGELES – April 28th, 2026 – SELECT CS PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (“SELECT CS”), a California corporation; CEDARS-SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM, a California nonprofit; FERNANDO AGUSTIN SALAZAR, an individual; are facing a lawsuit alleging that SELECT CS PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. and CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER from sexual harassment committed/carried out/etc. during the course of her treatment by Defendant SALAZAR, a physical therapist jointly employed by the SELECT Defendants and CEDARS-SINAI Defendants.
The Complaint alleges that SALAZAR used his work email to obtain Plaintiff’s phone number and engaged in inappropriate communications, including requesting photos and videos of her body, commenting on her appearance, and repeatedly attempting to meet her outside the clinical setting. The Complaint alleges that in or around December 2023, during a physical therapy appointment, SALAZAR allegedly took Plaintiff to a private room, instructed her to remove her shirt, and inappropriately touched her breasts, buttocks, and genitals without any legitimate medical purpose. Following the appointment, SALAZAR continued to contact Plaintiff, urging her to return when he was alone and making explicit sexual comments, instructing her not to wear a bra and stating he “would’ve touched [her] more” if she had spoken up.
The Complaint alleges that, thereafter, SALAZAR requested Plaintiff meet him at a nearby fitness center to exercise. Upon Plaintiff’s arrival, SALAZAR insisted on leaving to get food and brought Plaintiff to his apartment. The Complaint alleges that once inside the apartment, SALAZAR attempted to kiss Plaintiff, and attempted to put his hands inside of Plaintiff’s pants and touch her genitals. Despite Plaintiff’s refusals, the Complaint alleges that SALAZAR continued to pressure her until SALAZAR relented and returned Plaintiff to the gym.
The Complaint alleges that in or around May 2024, approximately a few months after Plaintiff’s last physical therapy session with SALAZAR for her back injury, Plaintiff was reassigned to SALAZAR for treatment for a knee injury at the same Select Physical Therapy facility. During this treatment, the Complaint alleges SALAZAR continued to sexually assault Plaintiff.
On April 17, 2025—approximately one year after Plaintiff’s final knee treatment session—SALAZAR was arrested for sexually battering another patient at a Select Physical Therapy facility in Santa Monica and charged with two felony counts under Penal Code § 243.4(c). A separate civil action was filed in Los Angeles County alleging similar misconduct, including requiring a patient to undress and inappropriately touching her during physical therapy sessions without any legitimate medical purpose.
For more information or to confidentially discuss a potential claim, please contact Makarem & Associates at 1-800-610-9646 or [email protected].
About Makarem & Associates: Makarem & Associates is a compassionate and dedicated law firm based in Los Angeles, focusing on representing victims of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other civil rights violations.
Media Contact: Brooke Lum, Marketing Assistant | (424) 256-6380 | [email protected]
