A therapist from South Florida, who was brutally assaulted, raped, and held captive during a home visit session, has filed a lawsuit against the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), her employer, and the father of her attacker.
Filed on June 30 under the pseudonym Jane Doe H.H., the complaint alleges gross negligence on the part of all three defendants.
Who She Is Suing—and Why
In a 22-page lawsuit, Doe’s attorney, Jennifer Lipinski, outlined the failures that allegedly contributed to the incident.
She accused the PBSO of negligence for failing to intervene despite having legal jurisdiction. The agency, she said, neither performed routine checks on the patient nor responded quickly enough when red flags were raised.
Doe’s employer, Moshe Winograd—who runs Rejuvenate Counselling—has been accused of assigning her the in-home therapy session with Tzvi Allswang without informing her of his criminal background. Lipinski stated that safer alternatives like telehealth were available but ignored.
The lawsuit also claims that Allswang’s father was aware of his son’s violent past but did not warn Doe or the counseling center.
Lipinski argued that all three parties had the chance to protect her client, but none of them acted when it mattered most.
Doe is now seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from each party for her permanent physical and emotional trauma, lost wages, and reduced future earning potential. So far, none of the defendants has filed formal responses. Judge James Sherman has yet to schedule a hearing.
What Exactly Happened During the Attack
The incident occurred on July 1, 2022, when Doe visited Allswang’s home in suburban Boca Raton for a scheduled in-house therapy session. She said the conversation initially seemed normal, but Allswang soon began asking intrusive personal questions.
Sensing danger, she tried to leave—but as she reached the door, he attacked her. He allegedly threw her to the ground, tied her wrists with duct tape, and dragged her by the hair through the house.
Doe says she was then subjected to prolonged physical and sexual assault throughout the night. Despite her cries for help, deputies outside reportedly hesitated to intervene, allegedly debating whether her screams were “pleasure or distress.”
How She Was Rescued
Doe’s partner became alarmed after receiving unusual texts from her phone—one stating she was being taken to a police station for a breath test, another claiming she was headed to a hotel with officers.
Worried, she reported her missing around 1 a.m. on July 2 to Lantana Police. After confirming Doe wasn’t in custody, the partner contacted Doe’s supervisor, who informed her about the therapy session scheduled in Boca Raton.
She then went to the location with PBSO deputies and found the car parked outside, but no one answered the door. Initially, the deputies left without forcing entry.
According to Lipinski, nearly five hours later, deputies returned and breached the door—only to find Allswang holding a knife to Doe’s throat. One of the officers shot him in the head to halt the assault.
Remarkably, he survived and, after spending four days in the hospital, was transferred to the Palm Beach County Jail. He was later sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault.
A Larger Question of Therapist Safety
This disturbing case has once again raised questions about how safe therapy can be, especially for women doing home visits.
The lawsuit shows how dangerous it can be when patients with a violent past are assigned without proper checks or precautions. It also points to serious gaps in how quickly law enforcement responds in emergencies like these.
Jane Doe H.H. may have survived, but the damage she suffered is lasting. Her case is just one of many that highlight the need for stronger safety steps, better transparency, and quicker action before things reach this point.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)