Jury awards millions in Sodexo sexual assault case

A $5 million verdict was reached for the plaintiff in a sexual assault case out of St. Louis County Circuit Court.

The verdict was handed down by the jury Nov. 7. The plaintiff, Rosemarie Stephens, was a housekeeper at DePaul Hospital, which was managed by defendant Sodexo Operations.

On June 3, 2019, Stephens was deployed to the Adult Behavioral Health Unit without training or warnings related to the potential for patient attacks. Her first day in the unit, a patient attacked and attempted to rape her, injuring her neck and shoulder in the process. She suffered two herniated discs in her cervical spine, as well as psychological injuries including reoccurring nightmares.

Stephens was represented by lead attorney Ryan J. Krupp and co-counsel James P. Krupp, both of Krupp & Raboin in St. Louis. Sodexo was represented by lead attorney David Boresi, along with Brad Sylwester and Daniele Winkle, of Franke Schultz & Mullen in St. Louis.

At trial, the plaintiff’s side brought in one expert, Dr. Alexander Rose, a forensic psychiatrist with Veritas Forensic Psychiatry in St. Louis. The defense team also had one expert, Dr. Angeline Stanislaus, a forensic psychiatrist in St. Louis.

The plaintiff made a last pre-trial demand for $5 million, which was withdrawn before trial. Sodexo made no settlement offers prior to trial.

“It takes a lot of bravery for someone to go through what they went through … and bring that before a jury … especially in light of the zero offer she faced,” said Krupp. “It’s one thing when you’re pressed with a situation where you think there’s a way to resolve it … but in a case where the defendant claims no wrongdoing … (it) showed a lot of bravery from her, and an example of real, true justice from a jury of peers.”

Boresi could not be reached for comment.

Other Personal Injury

Amount of verdict (for plaintiff): $5 million

Type of action: Other Personal Injury

Venue: St. Louis County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 24SL-CC02490, 11/07/2025

Caption: Rosemarie Stephens v. Sodexo Operations LLC

Injuries alleged: Back, spine, emotional, psychological

Injuries detail: Plaintiff was sexually assaulted by a psychiatric patient at the Behavioral Health Unit of DePaul Hospital. She suffered two herniated discs in her cervical spine and psychological injuries which included reoccurring nightmares.

Last pretrial demand: $5 million

Last demand detail: Policy limit demand

Plaintiff’s attorneys: Ryan J. Krupp and James P. Krupp of Krupp & Raboin in St. Loui

Defendant’s attorneys: David Boresi, Brad Sylwester and Daniele Winkle of Franke Schultz & Mullen in St. Louis

Insurance Carrier(s): SSM Health Care St. Louis and AXA XL Insurance (for defendant)

Plaintiff expert(s): Dr. Alexander Rose, a forensic psychiatrist with Veritas Forensic Psychiatry in St. Louis

Defense expert(s): Dr. Angeline Stanislaus, a forensic psychiatrist in St. Louis