Christina Spicer  |  November 27, 2020

Category: Legal News

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.

Upset woman sits on couch

Former Columbia University gynecologist Dr. Robert Hadden is the subject of dozens of sexual assault claims from former patients. If you have suffered sexual assault, abuse or misconduct by Dr. Robert Hadden while he was employed at the university, you may be able to file a Columbia University lawsuit and pursue compensation.

What Is Dr. Hadden’s History at Columbia University?

Dr. Robert Hadden worked for nearly 20 years —1993 to 2012 —at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. During this period, Hadden used his position as a trusted physician to sexually abuse dozens of women and girls, according to a growing number of lawsuits.

Hadden left Columbia University in 2012 due to the allegations and, now 62 years old, resides in Englewood, N.J.

When Were the Allegations First Raised?

Allegations against Hadden date to the mid-1990s, shortly after he first began in his position at Columbia University. In 1994, a letter from a former patient to Columbia officials included specific sexual abuse allegations against Hadden. The letter, recently obtained by CNN, prompted a response from the hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, promising to address the concerns. However, the accuser has said that she never heard from the official again.

While there were accusations against Hadden made privately within the university’s system, public allegations do not appear to have been made until 2012.

In June 2012, Hadden allegedly licked an unnamed patient during an examination. The woman immediately called the New York Police Department. Police arrived at Hadden’s office that same day and took him in for questioning. However, days later, Hadden was back at work seeing patients. Hadden would continue seeing patients at Columbia medical centers for another six weeks. At that point, Columbia removed Hadden from having patient contact.

While the NYPD questioning had not immediately stopped Hadden from seeing patients, it did lead to an investigation by the district attorney’s office. In June 2014, Hadden was criminally indicted for sexually assaulting six patients. 

How Many Survivors Are Alleging Abuse Now?

Dozens of survivors have come forward with sexual abuse allegations against Hadden.

Marissa H. saw Hadden for gynecological exams between 2009 and 2012, with an increasing amount of verbal and physical harassment each time. This behavior continued until May 2012, she says, after the birth of her twins, when she says Hadden performed a pelvic examination without wearing gloves and even licked her genitals.

“I just never went back,” Marissa told The Eye, the long-form magazine of the Columbia Daily Spectator. “I did not tell anybody. I just froze and, ‘Oh God, that just happened, I’m never coming back here.’”

Finally, a recent investigation opened by District Attorney Cy Vance has led to new charges involving more than 100 women who have allegedly been abused by Hadden.

A civil suit against both Hadden and Columbia University was filed in 2019 and included dozens of accusers. After Evelyn Yang, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, went public with allegations against Hadden, some 80 additional accusers have come forward. Now, more than 100 plaintiffs have accused Hadden of abuse.

Two of the plaintiffs in the 2019 Columbia University lawsuit were minors —ages 15 and 16 — at the time of their alleged abuse.

Has Dr. Robert Hadden Been Prosecuted?

photo of Columbia UniversityFor Hadden’s victims, the pursuit of justice has been a long time coming. Two years after Hadden’s June 2014 indictment, he pleaded guilty to just two assault charges. Though he was sentenced to probation and lost his medical license, he faced no jail time.

But on Sept. 9, the FBI announced that Hadden had been arrested and charged with federal counts of “enticing and inducing six individuals to travel interstate to engage in illegal sexual activity.” Each count carries a maximum 20-year prison term. The indictment includes allegations during the two decades of Hadden’s employment with Columbia University.

“The abusive behavior alleged here took place over the course of nearly two decades, which means there could be many victims out there we have not heard from,” said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. “We are asking anyone seeing this information to reach out to us… It is important to remember nothing Dr. Hadden has done was, or ever will be, your fault. We see time and time again that voices matter and those who have stepped forward have empowered others to do the same.”

Hadden’s Finances in Question in Court Proceedings

The New York Daily News reports that Hadden has been less than forthcoming about his finances since his arrest on allegations that he sexually assaulted patients for decades. According to the Daily News, the court is seeking a third accountant to review and report on Hadden’s financial accounts after two previous accountants declined for unknown reasons.

Reportedly, the only information about Hadden’s finances consists of a handwritten document that Manhattan Federal Judge Richard Berman stated did not make sense.

“I felt it was totally inadequate and frankly I was surprised,” the judge said.

Hadden is scheduled to go to trial on criminal charges of abusing patients on July 6, 2021.

CNN reported that an unsealed federal indictment against the former Columbia gynecologist revealed that between 1993 and 2012, Hadden allegedly lured dozens of patients to his New York office, where he sexually abused them. The alleged victims include a minor and five adults.

According to the indictment, Hadden “sought out and abused” a minor that he had actually delivered years earlier.

At the time of his arrest, Hadden pleaded not guilty and was released on $1 million bond. Prior to his arrest in September, Hadden had not spent any time in jail despite repeated accusations of abuse by former patients starting as early as 1994, according to CNN.

What Does the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Say About Sexual Misconduct?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that sexual misconduct by OB/GYN professionals is rare, but that even one occurrence is not acceptable. ACOG formed a Committee on Ethics that made a number of recommendations to ensure a safe environment for patients.

ACOG makes it clear that any type of sexual or romantic interaction between an OB/GYN and a patient is unethical and any report of such activity should be investigated, sanctions issued, and in certain situations, criminal prosecution should be pursued.

“Physical examinations should be explained appropriately, undertaken only with the patient’s consent, and performed with the minimum amount of physical contact required to obtain data for diagnosis and treatment,” says the ACOG.

A chaperone is recommended to be in the exam room during breast, genital or rectal examinations. ACOG recommends a chaperone be present for such screenings regardless of the sex or gender of the doctor performing the examination.

Every institution should provide clinical staff with guidelines on how to report sexual misconduct. OB/GYNs have an ethical and professional responsibility to report sexual misconduct or suspected sexual misconduct that may have been committed by a health care worker. Such reports should be made to supervisors, department chairs, peer review boards, state licensing boards and professional licensing boards, and in cases of sexual assault or physical assault, local law enforcement should be notified.

Can You File a Columbia University Lawsuit for Sex Abuse?

If you were sexually abused or the victim of misconduct by Dr. Robert Hadden while he worked at Columbia University, you may be able to file a Columbia University lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by sexual abuse, but it can help to hold those responsible accountable for their actions or inactions which allowed the abuse to occur.

Filing a Columbia University lawsuit may seem like a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Free Robert Hadden Sexual Assault Lawsuit Evaluation

If you or a loved one were a patient of former Columbia University gynecologist Dr. Robert Hadden and suffered sexual abuse and assault at his hands, demand justice now.

Perpetrators who abuse their power and authority must be held accountable for their actions.

Submit your information and an attorney will contact you for a FREE case evaluation if you qualify.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Free Robert Hadden Sexual Assault Lawsuit Evaluation

Fill out the form below for a free case evaluation. If you qualify, a lawyer will contact you to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

E-mail any problems with this form to:

Questions@TopClassActions.com.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.