Dr. Mark Blankenburg
HAMILTON — A Fairfield man is suing Hamilton pediatrician Dr. Mark Blankenburg for allegedly breaking a promise to take care of him financially in exchange for his silence about being sexually abused by the doctor as a teenager.
Gary “Pat” Marchetti, 36, filed a civil lawsuit against Blankenburg on Nov. 13 in Butler County Common Pleas Court, citing a breach of contract, medical negligence and child sexual abuse and assault. Marchetti claims that Blankenburg molested him when he was 15 and gave him money and drugs to keep quiet.
Blankenburg, 53, was found guilty in October of molesting three former patients, but not Marchetti, who testified during the two-week trial. Prosecutors couldn’t charge Blankenburg with molesting Marchetti because the statute of limitations on his case had run out. The doctor also was convicted by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth on six additional felony charges including trafficking in drugs and money laundering, but he was found not guilty of bribery and money laundering crimes pertaining to Marchetti.
“(Blankenburg) said, ‘I am sorry that I did this and here is some money. I can make it better. Don’t tell anyone about this. If you need any more money call me or you can put a note on my car,’ ” according to Marchetti’s trial testimony.
Marchetti testifield that the doctor would pay his rent and family expenses and paid him to have oral sex dozens of times.
The lawsuit claims Blankenburg “intentionally used his superior medical knowledge and skill to maintain (Marchetti) in vulnerable, dependent and incompetent state in order to continue to molest (him) and prevent (him) from seeking legal assistance or pursuing his legal rights.”
Mason attorney Konrad Kircher, who is representing Marchetti, said Blankenburg “manipulated him to make him totally reliant for financial support.”
According to the suit, Blankenburg breached his contract with Marchetti to continue to pay for his living expenses in exchange for Marchetti not reporting the sexual abuse to authorities.
Marchetti has demanded a jury trial and $25,000 and “all other relief to which he may be lawfully entitled” for compensatory and punitive damages.
Kircher said, “I think it is a very worthy case. ... If he had not suffered the abuse when he was a child, his life would have turn out much differently.”
Hamilton defense attorney Michael Shanks, who represents Blankenburg along with attorney Chris Pagan, said he had no knowledge of the civil suit. Pagan did not return calls.
Blankenburg’s twin, Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg, a Fairifield pediatrician, faces trial in April on similar charges, except for any drug-related allegations.
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