A federal judge on Monday gave final approval to a $73million settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged some 6,000 female patients were sexually abused by a former UCLA gynecologist.
The 2019 suit involved allegations that from 1983 to 2018, Dr. James Heaps groped women, simulated intercourse with an ultrasound probe or made inappropriate comments during examinations at the UCLA student health center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center or his on-campus office.
The explosive complaint also accused UCLA of failing to take action against Heaps despite complaints and of having a 'policy of indifference' to reports of sexual misconduct.
More than 100 of Heaps’ former patients had made allegations or filed individual lawsuits, but the class-action suit includes all potential victims. Each will receive between $2,500 and $250,000, with the higher amounts involving the extent of bodily injury and emotional distress as decided by a panel of experts.
A federal judge has signed off on a $73million settlement of a lawsuit that alleged some 6,000 women were sexually abused by former UCLA gynecologist Dr James Heaps, pictured in court in June 2019
UCLA didn’t acknowledge wrongdoing in reaching the settlement last year, but the university did agree to change its procedures for preventing, identifying, investigating and dealing with sexual misconduct. That included requiring a trained chaperone to be present during intimate physical examinations of patients age 8 or older unless they opt out.
'While we can’t comment on the specifics of today’s legal action, we can say unequivocally that sexual misconduct or abuse is inexcusable. We remain committed to providing quality care that respects the dignity of every patient,' said a statement from UCLA Health.
The university has said its investigation into Heaps began in December 2017. He retired in 2018 when the university declined to renew his contract.
Heaps, 64, also faces 21 criminal charges of sexual abuse offenses involving seven women, including one patient who was unconscious.
He was arraigned in June on counts of sexual battery by fraud, sexual exploitation of a patient and sexual penetration of an unconscious person by fraudulent representation between 2009 and 2018. If convicted on all charges, Heaps faces more than 60 years in prison.
He has previously denied the charges and any wrongdoing.
'Dr. Heaps is confident he will be exonerated at trial,' his attorney, Leonard Levine, told The Los Angeles Times.
Heaps was first arrested in June 2019, prompting some 300 women to come forward and accuse him of sexual misconduct, claiming he touched them
