Menendezes’ Ex-Therapist Sued by His Former Lover : Courts: Psychologist is accused of sexually assaulting her at a Downtown law firm. He denies the charges.

In an ongoing subplot to the Menendez brothers’ murder trial, their therapist was sued again Friday by his former lover, who alleged that he sexually assaulted her last week.

Judalon Smyth, who was once the paramour of Beverly Hills psychologist L. Jerome Oziel, accused him of pushing against her in a meeting at a Downtown Los Angeles law firm, and of whispering remarks that caused her severe distress, according to the suit filed in Superior Court.

Oziel allegedly told her: “You slut. You know you still want me.”

Reached by telephone, Oziel denied making any such comments.

It was Smyth who three years ago told police that Lyle and Erik Menendez had confessed in counseling sessions with Oziel that they had killed their parents. The brothers are on trial on charges of first-degree murder, and Smyth is scheduled to be the next defense witness--in large part to discredit Oziel.

Erik Menendez, 22, and Lyle Menendez, 25, admit the Aug. 20, 1989, shotgun slayings of their parents, Jose Menendez, 45, and Kitty Menendez, 47, but contend they killed them in self-defense after years of abuse. Prosecutors say that the brothers killed out of hatred and greed.

There was no testimony Friday. Defense lawyer Leslie Abramson was tending to a newborn she plans to adopt, and Erik Menendez was taken in the morning to County-USC Medical Center, complaining of abdominal pains. Defense attorney Jill Lansing said he has kidney stones.

Oziel, who was called weeks ago as a prosecution witness, testified that the brothers confessed to him on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 1989.

The sessions did not come to the attention of authorities, however, until March, 1990, when Smyth--who had just broken up with Oziel--told Beverly Hills police about them. The brothers were arrested days later.

In May, 1990, Smyth sued Oziel, alleging that he assaulted and medicated her. He denied the charges and the suit was settled. The terms were sealed.

After Vanity Fair published an article about the Menendez case in October, 1990, Oziel sued the magazine, writer Dominick Dunne and Smyth, who was quoted at length.

Last week, in connection with that suit, Oziel was scheduled to give a deposition. But after arriving Oct. 26 at a Downtown law firm, he settled with the magazine and Dunne--but not with Smyth--and prepared to leave.

It was then, she said in her suit, that he pushed against her suggestively and whispered in her ear. In turn, witnesses said, she threw a glass of water in his face.

“Everything sort of hit the fan after that,” a witness said, saying there was considerable yelling among lawyers, Oziel and Smith.

The suit accuses Oziel of battery, negligence and intentionally inflicting emotional distress, and seeks unspecified damages.

“Her whole life is now devoted to trying to punish me,” Oziel said.