As Criminal Probe Widens, Kaiser Sued for Allegedly Ignoring Doctor's Abuse
A sprawling child exploitation investigation that rocked Clark County has now spilled into civil court. Two lawsuits accuse multiple Kaiser Permanente entities of ignoring decades of warning signs surrounding a deceased local pediatrician.
Dr. Michael R. Wilmington, who authorities say took his own life in Lewis County on May 2 just a day after a felony warrant was issued for his arrest, used his position at the Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Medical Office to sexually abuse patients, the civil complaints allege.
First Suit Alleges Decades of Missed Warnings
The first lawsuit, filed May 11 in King County Superior Court against Kaiser entities—including the Salmon Creek Medical Office and the health plans of Washington and the Northwest—was brought by a former patient identified as “Jane Doe 1.”
The plaintiff claims that Wilmington sexually abused her between 2000 and 2006.
According to the complaint, Wilmington subjected the minor to inappropriate touching, required her to be naked when it was not medically necessary, and made sexually charged comments under the guise of legitimate medical care.
The suit claims Kaiser received multiple, severe complaints about Wilmington over a twenty-year span but repeatedly minimized or ignored them “to conceal their bad acts” and protect the organization’s reputation.
Among the filings’ most disturbing allegations is an incident roughly two decades ago.
A mother reportedly complained that Wilmington unexpectedly pulled down her adolescent daughter’s undergarments during a routine sports physical to inspect her genitals—an action a Kaiser nurse allegedly defended as legitimate care.
Another alleged incident detailed in the lawsuit claims that seven years ago, the doctor insisted on conducting well-child exams on four siblings, during which he fondled the genitals of two minor boys.
He then allegedly became enraged when their mother refused to leave the room so he could examine her minor daughter alone. The mother reportedly called Kaiser three times to file a formal complaint.
The lawsuit also alleges Kaiser staff were aware of highly unorthodox behavior, claiming Wilmington advocated for nudity, invited parents and children to his home for “sleepovers,” and suggested that a minor survivor of sexual abuse “shadow” him to see other naked children. The complaint even alleges he had minor “interns” examine other patients in the nude.
The plaintiff is suing for negligence, discrimination under the Washington Law Against Discrimination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Second Suit Claims Failure to Warn Recent Patients
A second complaint, filed on May 13 in King County Superior Court by an Oregon mother identified as C.W., focuses on the health provider’s alleged failure to warn recent patients of the danger in their clinics.
The lawsuit states that C.W.’s daughter, identified as K.N., was a pediatric patient of Wilmington from February 2022 through March 2024.
The suit names several entities, including Washington Permanente Medical Group and Northwest Permanente, alleging they knew of the severe risks the doctor posed but intentionally or recklessly withheld that information from the family.
According to the filing, Kaiser did not alert the family until May 3, 2026—a day after Wilmington was found deceased in Lewis County.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for reckless infliction of emotional distress.
Criminal Investigation Continues to Widen
These civil actions follow a rapidly expanding criminal investigation led by the Vancouver Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which originally began with a cyber tip regarding child sex abuse material in February 2026.
The probe initially led to the April 29 arrest of Vancouver resident Chad Hartley, who remains incarcerated on severe child pornography and molestation charges.
Detectives quickly discovered Hartley’s association with Wilmington, who police say hosted “naked sleepovers” at his La Center residence.
The investigation expanded further on May 7, when authorities arrested a third man, 61-year-old William J. Sneiderwine.
He faces charges including Conspiracy to Commit Child Molestation I and Tampering with Physical Evidence, an arrest authorities attribute to intensive forensic analysis of digital evidence.
With the primary investigation remaining active and ongoing, law enforcement continues to urgently appeal to the community for assistance.
Police are asking anyone who is aware of a child who may have had unsupervised contact with Chad Hartley, Michael Wilmington, or William Sneiderwine to immediately contact their local law enforcement agency.