An attorney representing a Springdale woman has filed a lawsuit against a Eureka Springs drug and alcohol treatment center and one of its former employees, alleging the employee sexually assaulted her while transporting her to the facility for treatment.
Fayetteville attorney Christopher Birch filed the lawsuit on behalf of plaintiff Mallory Parker on Aug. 10 in Carroll County Circuit Court. Defendants in the suit are Kristopher Stump and Behavioral Health Programs Inc., which does business as Dr. Paul’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment.
The lawsuit alleges Parker was scheduled to be admitted to the Eureka Springs facility for alcohol abuse rehabilitation on Aug. 7, 2025.
According to the complaint, Behavioral Health Programs knew Parker struggled with alcohol abuse and addiction but instructed her that she needed to have alcohol in her system when she arrived for treatment in order for the treatment to be covered by insurance.
Because Parker was in Conway, the lawsuit alleges, the company sent Stump to pick her up and transport her to Eureka Springs.
The complaint alleges Stump provided Parker with additional alcoholic beverages during the trip, eventually causing her to black out and leaving her physically helpless and mentally incapacitated.
Parker alleges she briefly regained consciousness while the vehicle was stopped alongside the road and discovered Stump sexually assaulting her.
When Parker arrived at the treatment facility, according to the lawsuit, she was informed that her blood-alcohol level put her at risk of alcohol poisoning.
The lawsuit says Parker’s memory of the incident was unclear because of the effects of the alcohol. She allegedly confronted Stump several weeks later, and the complaint says Stump smiled and confirmed that the two had engaged in sexual intercourse.
Parker reported the alleged incident to the company on Nov. 4, 2025, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges Stump was not immediately terminated and remained employed until sometime later, “… after additional victims came forward to report sexual misconduct” by Stump.
The allegations have not been proved in court.
The lawsuit also raises questions about Stump’s criminal history and the treatment center’s decision to employ him in a position involving the transportation of patients.
According to the complaint and sentencing orders attached to it, Stump had multiple felony convictions before the alleged August 2025 incident.
The records include a 2018 Logan County conviction for impairing the operation of a vital public facility. A separate 2018 sentencing order shows Stump was convicted of possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver.
A 2022 Washington County sentencing order included with the lawsuit shows convictions for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The lawsuit alleges the company knew or, through the exercise of reasonable care, should have known about Stump’s felony record before employing him and placing him “in a position of trust” transporting patients or prospective patients.
Parker’s lawsuit includes five causes of action against the defendants: rape, second-degree sexual assault, outrage, negligence and negligent hiring, supervision or retention of an employee.
In the lawsuit’s negligence claim, Parker alleges the company had a duty of care to her as a patient or prospective patient and was negligent in advising her to consume alcohol before arriving for treatment.
The lawsuit alleges it was foreseeable that consuming enough alcohol to cause someone to black out could leave that person physically helpless or mentally incapacitated and vulnerable to harm.
Parker also alleges the company failed to adequately supervise Stump despite knowing or having reason to know that he posed a risk to patients in vulnerable positions.
The complaint says Parker has experienced physical trauma and severe emotional distress as a result of the alleged incident.
Parker is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the defendants, as well as costs, interest and attorney’s fees. She has requested a jury trial.
The defendants had not filed responses to the lawsuit as of Wednesday, Aug. 26.
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