NY Doctor Owes $1.6B to 100+ Women for Abuse Claims

NY Doctor Owes $1.6B to 100+ Women for Abuse Claims

Introduction

Beginning in the 1980s, law enforcement and health officials in New York began receiving complaints from young patients about a well-regarded pediatrician operating out of his home basement office on Long Island.

Despite numerous allegations of sexual abuse, the doctor was never criminally charged.

Medical License Revoked, but No Charges

It wasn't until the pediatrician approached retirement in 2000 at age 65 that he lost his medical license. The revocation came after several women came forward with testimonies of abuse. Yet, for years, no criminal charges were brought against him, and many of the complaints were dismissed or ignored.

Court Awards $1.6 Billion to 100+ Former Patients

Now, more than two decades later, over 100 of his former patients have received long-awaited legal recognition of their trauma. In March 2024, a Long Island court ordered the former doctor to pay a total of $1.6 billion in damages to the victims. The case marks one of the largest cumulative judgments against an individual in U.S. history for sexual abuse.

Survivors Find Mixed Relief

One survivor, now a 63-year-old Episcopal priest living in Las Vegas, was awarded $25 million. He described the verdict as both validating and frustrating. “I’m not sure if he’s really facing justice. He got away with it for so long,” he said. “But to hear a court say, ‘I believe you’ — that’s powerful.”

Accused Denies Allegations

The accused has continued to deny the abuse allegations, claiming his examinations were simply "thorough." Many survivors, however, described being examined alone, after their parents were asked to leave the room. The physician's attorney did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Legal Action Enabled by Child Victims Act

For years, victims were barred from filing lawsuits due to New York's statute of limitations. That changed with the passage of the Child Victims Act in 2019, which opened a temporary window allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to pursue civil claims.

Legal Representatives Speak Out

A Philadelphia-based attorney representing many of the women emphasized the significance of the case: “For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed. Now, they cannot be ignored.” A Long Island attorney representing the group said the damages ranged from $500,000 to $32 million.

Judgments Reflect Trauma and Suffering

Some awards noted the enduring psychological damage suffered by the victims. In a $27 million award issued in April 2024, the court cited “profound and permanent” trauma. Another judgment from December 2024 described the pediatrician’s actions as “reprehensible.”

Lawsuits Against Hospitals Dismissed

The women also filed lawsuits against local hospitals and health care systems, alleging failure to act on warning signs. However, those claims were dismissed, leaving the former pediatrician as the sole party held financially accountable.