COLUMBIA — A Richland County judge has ruled that a lawsuit alleging a doctor with Lexington Rheumatology sexually assaulted a woman at her home in January 2022 can move forward.

Last month, The Post and Courier reported that a Richland County woman was suing Dr. Fernando Xavier Castro, her doctor of seven years, for allegedly sexually assaulting her during what he allegedly described as a "therapeutic massage.”

On Sept. 3, Richland County Common Pleas Judge Daniel Coble heard arguments to dismiss the case from lawyers for both Lexington Rheumatology and Castro.

James Snell, Castro’s attorney, argued that the lawsuit is barred by the state’s statute of limitations, which allows victims to bring action up to three years after the incident took place. His argument did not address the wo

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