California IN BRIEF : VENTURA : Woman Sues Health Club, Alleges Attack

A 19-year-old woman has sued the owner and several employees of a Ventura health club, contending that she was sexually assaulted because the club allowed peeping Toms to spy on female patrons. The suit alleges that the Ventura Athletic Club on Everglades Street, formerly known as Nautilus of California, gave some employees and patrons access to areas where they could look through holes in ceiling tiles. In May, 1989, the suit says, a club employee attacked the woman and made lewd remarks. The suit says the club should have known that “providing employees and third persons with views of naked females would result in . . . sexual advance and attack.” Club owner John Bookwalter said: “I had no knowledge whatsoever of any of the activities that she alleges took place.”