Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
UPDATE:
- The Court granted final approval to this class action settlement July 12, 2021.
- Tier 1 payments began mailing out to Class Members on Sept. 21, 2021.
- Those who filed a Tier 2 or 3 claim will receive a separate determination related to that claim; the claims review process for those tiers is expected to end in February 2022.
- Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
Patients of Dr. James Heaps have reached a $73 million class action settlement to resolve claims that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) gynecologist harassed and abused female patients.
Those who are able to benefit from this settlement are female patients who were seen for treatment by Heaps at:
- UCLA Medical Center (the current Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) between Jan. 1, 1986, and June 28, 2018
- UCLA’s student health center (the current Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center) between Jan. 1, 1983, and June 30, 2010
- Heaps’ medical office at 100 UCLA Medical Plaza between Feb. 1, 2014, and June 28, 2018
The class action lawsuit accused Heaps of assaulting, abusing, and displaying harassing and offensive behavior toward his female patients during his time working at the UCLA medical facilities. The plaintiffs also accused the board of regents of failing to respond in an appropriate way.
The defendants have denied any wrongdoing but have agreed to the settlement.
The UCLA Heaps settlement agreement includes both monetary and injunctive relief.
Two tiers of monetary relief have been established.
All Class Members are eligible for a $2,500 Tier 1 payment if confirmed as Class Members. They may also seek a Tier 2 payment for an estimated total of $12,500 or a Tier 3 payment for an estimated total between $12,500 and $250,000. These amounts are subject to pro-rata adjustment.
The amount Class Members will receive will depend on whether they file a claim and what type of claim they file.
Tier 1
Class Members who are pre-identified through UCLA records will be automatically mailed a check for $2,500 after the settlement goes into effect.
Class Members not identified through UCLA records must submit an online or written and signed Statement of Class Membership by June 7, 2021, in order to receive the $2,500 payment if they are confirmed as Class Members.
Tier 2
Class Members may submit a Tier 2 claim form describing their experience with Heaps and the emotional distress, bodily injury, or other effects the interaction had on them.
A three-person impartial panel consisting of a court-appointed Special Master, a forensic psychologist/psychiatrist, and an obstetrician/gynecologist will review all Tier 2 claims.
This panel may ask Class Members in the UCLA Heaps settlement to answer additional questions in writing. Class Members may decline to answer these questions, but doing so could affect their eligibility for a Tier 2 payment.
If the panel determines the Class Member’s Tier 2 claim is credible, and Heaps’ conduct “fell outside the scope of accepted medical standards of care applicable during the relevant time, or is otherwise actionable,” the Class Member will receive an additional $10,000, subject to pro rata adjustment, according to the settlement notice.
If the panel determines the Class Member is not eligible for a Tier 2 payment, the Class Member will still receive the Tier 1 payment.
Tier 3
Class Members submitting a Tier 3 claim must provide further evidence of conduct or statements made by Heaps and the effect those interactions had on the Class Member.
Those wishing to make a Tier 3 claim must describe their experience and its effects, plus additional evidence, such as evidence of medical expenses or previous complaints.
Tier 3 claimants will be interviewed by a neutral, trained specialist member of the Special Master’s team, who will then provide an assessment to the panel.
The interview is for the purpose of collecting information about the claim and is not a cross-examination.
The panel will determine the credibility of each Tier 3 claim and award a total payment of $12,500 to $250,000, subject to pro rata adjustment.
Additionally, $5 million of the settlement fund will be reserved for a supplemental award for “extraordinary cases” in which the panel determines more compensation is necessary for a claimant who is eligible to receive the maximum Tier 3 award.
The panel may decide to award a supplemental payment of any amount, as long as the total amount of all supplemental awards does not surpass $5 million.
If the panel determines a Class Member is not eligible for a Tier 3 payment, they will still receive the Tier 1 award.
All settlement claim form and document information can be found on the settlement website.
The regents also have agreed to ensure improved operation and oversight procedures for preventing, identifying, and reporting sexual misconduct in clinical settings, including implementing a new sexual harassment/assault investigation model; improving chaperone policies; providing training for UCLA medical facility personnel on provider-patient boundaries and conducting sensitive exams; and other measures.
If you wish to exclude yourself from or object to the UCLA Heaps class action settlement, you must do so by May 6, 2021.
The deadline to file a claim in the settlement is June 7, 2021.
A final hearing is scheduled for July 12, 2021.
Who’s Eligible
Female patients seen for treatment by Dr. James M. Heaps at:
- UCLA Medical Center (the current Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) between Jan. 1, 1986, and June 28, 2018
- UCLA’s student health center (the current Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center) between Jan. 1, 1983, and June 30, 2010
- Heaps’ medical office at 100 UCLA Medical Plaza between Feb. 1, 2014, and June 28, 2018
Potential Award
Up to $250,000.
- All Class Members are eligible for a $2,500 Tier 1 payment if confirmed as Class Members.
- They may also seek a Tier 2 payment for an estimated total of $12,500 or a Tier 3 payment for an estimated total between $12,500 and $250,000. These amounts are subject to pro rata adjustment.
- A panel may award additional amounts as it deems appropriate.
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase is necessary to make a claim.
However, Tier 2 claimants must describe their interactions with Heaps and the effect those interactions had on them.
Tier 3 claimants must submit additional evidence, such as documentation of prior complaints or evidence of medical expenses.
Claim Form
NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Claim Form Deadline
06/07/2021
Case Name
A.B., et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-09555-RGK-E in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Final Hearing
07/12/2021
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
UCLA Heaps Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91386
Seattle, WA 98111-9333
1-888-921-0726
info@UCLAHeapsSettlement.com
Class Counsel
Daniel C. Girard
GIRARD SHARP LLP
Amy M. Zeman
GIBBS LAW GROUP LLP
Julie C. Erickson
ERICKSON KRAMER OSBORNE LLP
Defense Counsel
Catherine A. Conway
Debra Wong Yang
Jesse A. Cripps Jr.
Matthew Allan Hoffman
GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
119 thoughts onUCLA Regents Gynecologist Abuse $73M Class Action Settlement
Just emailed again today for an update.. it’s 12/6 right now. I asked for some kind of update as I was left out of the September payouts .. I was told I’d get a letter or email in the “near future” .. They answered me in about 10 mins.. anyway here is what they just wrote me back.
There is no additional information to provide at this time. We are working with the parties and your letter will be sent as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Settlement Administrator
UCLA Heaps Settlement
Just curious … Has anyone who did not receive a check yet or is still pending eligibility get any letter or notification yet? I keep getting told that I’ll get a letter or email in “the near future” but nothing has come.. I’m curious if anyone has received anything from these people?
I emailed the administrators again as I got a bit hopeful because of the comment below mine… Nothing has changed for me unfortunately. Still got the same response “We haven’t mailed or sent you an email and we still don’t have a date for when we will be sending it” seems kind of ridiculous that they cannot just tell us what information is needed when we email. They must know what information it is otherwise how would they know that information is necessary. It’s bad enough they picked and chose who got approved for checks in Sept.. now us left out from getting checks are still in the dark about everything..
I received this email yesterday Does this mean I’m approved?
Identified Settlement Class
Member or filed a claim in the
UCLA Heaps Settlement. However,
we do not have your Tax ID and
Date of Birth on file. This
information is required for us to
complete the processing of your
claim and/or distribute Settlement
benefits.
We need to receive confirmation
of your current mailing address,
your Social Security Number or
Foreign ID Number (if you have
never had a U.S. Social Security
Number), and Date of Birth to
compete the processing of your
claim(s) and/or issue your Tier 1
Settlement payment.
You may provide this information
to us through a secure encrypted
portal by clicking here.
If we do not receive your
response within 30 days, your
claim(s) may be determined
ineligible.
For additional information
regarding the Settlement, please
Yes you need to send him your information now they will send you $ 2500 or more
Well this is a good sign… Maybe the generic email we keep getting saying “You will be getting a letter or email requesting additional information” is going to be something like this… That would be cool. Seems like you may be one of the first people to get this elusive email/letter they keep speaking of. Thanks for updating!!
Did you receive your payment after submitting requested info?
I’ve gotten this same generic email bout 5 times now. This one came today….
Thank you for your email. We need additional information to complete the processing of your claim. You will be receiving an email or letter by mail in the near future requesting additional information. However, the date of the letter has not yet been set.
I emailed again for some kind of update and this is all I got. I’m almost 100% sure we will eventually get a letter asking for proof of our claim. Which is crap because the people who already got checks did NOT have to do this.. if you picked an older date then you didn’t have to do anything to get the tier 1 check. It says NOWHERE that I can see that we should have to send any additional info for just a tier 1 claim. As long as you signed that form online saying your a class member we should have been fine.. maybe it says somewhere in the terms that they can ask for records.. I don’t know. Just seems very unfair honestly. No matter what your email says or what you ask you will get a generic response like the one below. If anyone gets any more info please leave a comment here. Thanks everyone!….
Thank you for your email. We will be sending you a letter in the near future requesting additional information to assist us with verifying your eligibility per the terms of the Settlement. A date of mailing has not yet been set.
Sincerely,
Settlement Administrator
UCLA Heaps Settlement
Here’s what I got today.
Thank you for your email. The letter will be mailed to your address on file by next week.
So let’s see what happens. I am a patient from 2003
I emailed these people yesterday and got this reply today….
Thank you for your email. We will be sending you a letter in the near future requesting additional information to assist us with verifying your eligibility per the terms of the Settlement. A date of mailing has not yet been set.
Sincerely,
Settlement Administrator
UCLA Heaps Settlement
info@uclaheapssettlement.com
Does anyone know what the heck is going on with these pending tier 1 claims? I have not received a letter or email and I am starting to regret not pursuing an individual claim. Tier 1 claims are suppose to provide advantages for both sides and save me from having to relive my experience. Forcing me to dig up old paperwork or detail my story on paper defeats the whole purpose of why I settled for Tier 1. I can’t predict what will be needed from me, but this is starting to feel like a bait and switch. If a detailed explanation is requested, I will demand a higher tier level.
I totally agree Nancy. They gave everyone a check that picked dates in the 80s apparently. I’m in the same situation as you. I have emailed 5 times and each time I’m told I need to wait for a letter or email. I don’t understand why we aren’t being give any information about what we need to come up with. I’m sure it will be records we need to prove which is absolute garbage seeing as the people who have already been paid did not have to do this…
Has anyone received this letter or email that is supposedly going to be sent to us that weren’t sent a check? I’ve emailed twice and both times was told “It will come in either an email or letter” just keeps saying we need more information.. I’m assuming records which I don’t have … Like seriously? It was forever ago.. so unfair they are doing this to people. Just because I’m younger and didn’t go in the 80s.. I’m going to keep on them because why are we waiting so long?? Just send us these letters already!!
It’s extremely frustrating. I have tried emailing since checks commenced and I have not received any response. Before the checks went out I was told I’d be getting a letter or email about information needed.. it’s now Oct 3rd and no letter or email has come yet.. and I can’t seem to get an answer about when I should receive it or any information at all. I am sure they are quite busy.. just feel like it’s unfair. I understand them wanting proof if it’s available, but if that’s the case at least let me attempt to get it! I don’t even know what information yet! Is it just a signature on a form needed? Is it records I need to hunt down? If anyone gets a letter or email please update here so we know what to expect. . Thank you everyone!