Chiropractor charged with assault of minor

FAIRFIELD — An Ottumwa chiropractor with a business in Fairfield has been named in a lawsuit filed by parents who allege he inappropriately touched their 10-year-old son.

Bruce Lindberg, 62, was charged with assault stemming from the incident that allegedly occurred Feb. 16 at Ottumwa Chiropractic in Ottumwa. Lindberg also runs Lindberg Chiropractic in Fairfield.

Lindberg was arrested in April in Wapello County. On May 25, he entered an agreement with the Iowa Board of Chiropractic not to practice as a chiropractor until the criminal charge has been resolved.

The lawsuit against Lindberg alleges that on Feb. 16, the parents’ 10-year-old son was accompanying an adult family friend whose child was receiving care from Lindberg at his practice in Ottumwa. The 10-year-old was not with his parents or scheduled for a visit. According to the lawsuit, Lindberg took the boy into a private examination room, instructed him to remove his shirt, and began to “inappropriately massage [his] shirtless back with lotion.” Lindberg allegedly hugged and kissed the boy and told him he was “beautiful,” “adorable” and “the prettiest boy in the world.”

The lawsuit states that the boy told his parents about Lindberg’s conduct, and that Lindberg apologized to the family in a phone call on Feb. 17. The lawsuit states that the boy and his parents have since sought mental health services to cope with trauma related to the incident, resulting in medical bills and lost wages.

The lawsuit states that Lindberg had been previously reprimanded by the Iowa Board of Chiropractic for similar conduct.

“Any and all individuals associated with Lindberg Chiropractic, P.C. were or should have been on notice of Bruce Elroy Lindberg’s propensity or likelihood to commit malpractice and/or other inappropriate acts,” states the lawsuit filed by attorney Ben Lynch.

Lindberg has pleaded not guilty to the assault charge.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com