Sussex County woman sues medical practices, alleging employee shared private medical records on social media
MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — A Sparta Township woman has filed a lawsuit against several medical organizations and a medical receptionist, alleging that the employee accessed her confidential medical records without authorization, photographed sensitive health information and shared it on social media with people who knew her.
The lawsuit was filed Nov. 4 in New Jersey Superior Court in Morris County on behalf of a woman identified in court documents only by the initials E.R. The defendants include Lifeline Medical Associates, All About Women GYN Associates, Unified Women’s Healthcare and medical receptionist Remmi Joustra, along with unidentified individuals and business entities.
According to the complaint, Lifeline Medical Associates is an obstetrics and gynecology group based in Florham Park Borough, while All About Women GYN Associates operates in Sparta Township. Unified Women’s Healthcare, based in Tampa, Florida, provides management services to OB-GYN practices and conducts business in New Jersey.
The lawsuit alleges that Joustra worked as a medical receptionist at All About Women GYN Associates, which was part of the Lifeline Medical Associates and Unified Women’s Healthcare network. Employees within that network allegedly had electronic access to medical records belonging to patients receiving treatment at other affiliated offices.
According to the complaint, Joustra accessed the plaintiff’s electronic medical records on or about July 9, 2025, despite working at a different medical office from the one where the woman received care.
The lawsuit alleges that Joustra photographed confidential medical records containing sensitive information and test results related to the woman’s gynecological care, including sexually transmitted infection results, pregnancy test results and mental health records. The complaint further alleges that Joustra distributed photographs of those records through social media to acquaintances who knew the plaintiff.
As a result of the alleged disclosure, the woman claims she experienced ridicule, bullying and harassment from her peers, causing severe emotional suffering, reputational damage, social harm and financial losses.
Lawsuit alleges inadequate safeguards and employee oversight
The complaint accuses the medical organizations of failing to adequately protect confidential patient information within their shared electronic medical records system.
According to the lawsuit, employees at different medical offices within the network could access records belonging to patients receiving care elsewhere in the system. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants failed to implement or enforce sufficient safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to her medical information.
The lawsuit also alleges negligent hiring, training and supervision, claiming the medical organizations knew or should have known that Joustra was unfit or incompetent to properly safeguard patient records and privacy.
The complaint further accuses the defendants of medical malpractice, negligence, invasion of privacy, negligent infliction of emotional distress and vicarious liability.
An additional claim involving fraudulent concealment and destruction or alteration of evidence is directed at unidentified defendants. The complaint alleges, upon information and belief, that relevant evidence, potentially including medical records, photographs, text messages and social media posts, was destroyed, falsified or altered.
The plaintiff alleges that the defendants’ actions and failures caused emotional, reputational, social and financial harm.
Plaintiff seeks damages and jury trial
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief the court may determine appropriate. The plaintiff has also requested a jury trial.
The complaint was filed by attorney Paul M. da Costa of Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, based in Roseland.
The allegations outlined in the lawsuit are claims made by the plaintiff and have not been established as facts by the court.
