A woman is suing a man she met online for $20 million for giving her genital herpes and not telling her he had the condition before they had unprotected sex.
The plaintiff, who uses the pseudonym “Jane Gold” in court papers, met the man online in December 2015.
They then “engaged in unprotected intimate relations” at his apartment, she claims in the Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.
But the man didn’t tell her he had genital herpes — which is sexually transmitted — leaving Gold “to believe that it would be safe for (her) to engage in unprotected sex with him.”
Gold claims she didn’t have genital herpes before meeting the man, referred to by the pseudonym “Robert McKinley” in court papers.
“As a result of unprotected sexual relations with defendant,” she “contracted and was diagnosed with genital herpes.”
She also learned McKinley was taking medication for his herpes. They broke up in March.
Gold claims McKinley’s actions violated public health law. In addition, McKinley “refused to use any protective devices to prevent the transmittal of herpes to the plaintiff,” she claims.
She also believes he was having sex with other women without telling them about his herpes, the suit charges.
Gold described his behavior as a “crime of violence” — and said it was motivated by her gender and his “animus towards women and the plaintiff.”
Gold says McKinley’s actions entitle her to $20 million in compensation and punitive damages.