EAU CLAIRE, WI (WTAQ) - The Mayo Clinic Health System is asking a judge in Eau Claire County to dismiss it from a malpractice lawsuit.

Dr. David Van De Loo is facing 17 felony charges which accuse him of sexually assaulting male patients.

Three of those patients have filed civil lawsuits against the pediatrician who was fired last September at the clinic.

One of the suits alleges Mayo was negligent because it failed to properly supervise the doctor.

Mayo says it wasn’t aware of the allegations until last year and that’s when Dr. Van De Loo was fired.