A woman from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is asking the federal government to pay her damages for an alleged sexual assault by an Army recruiter.
Citing the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, Lavetta Elk, 20, says the government should have protected her from Joseph R. Kopf. She wants damages for psychological trauma, pain and suffering.
Elk reported the incident to the Army, which disciplined and demoted Kopf, who no longer works in recruiting. Elk says Kopf allegedly assaulted other women.
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Lawsuit alleges Army recruiter assaulted Indian woman
(AP 4/5)
Indian woman alleges assault by Army recruiter
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
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