Posted Friday, January 25, 2013 --- 8:40 a.m.

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) -- Mayo Clinic Health System wants an Eau Claire County judge to dismiss it from a malpractice lawsuit filed against a pediatrician.

Mayo Clinic fired Dr. David Van De Loo last September. Van De Loo is facing 17 felony charges that accuse him of sexually assaulting male patients. Three former patients have filed civil lawsuits against the pediatrician.

The first civil suit against Van De Loo, Mayo and its insurance provider accused the doctor of sexually abusing a male patient from 2004 to 2011. That patient is now 21 and living in Minnesota.

The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reports the lawsuit alleges Mayo was negligent in failing to adequately supervise Van De Loo. Mayo says it wasn't aware of sexual assault allegations against Van De Loo until 2012 and then he was terminated.

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Information from: Leader-Telegram, http://www.leadertelegram.com/

Copyright 2013: Associated Press