UCLA James Heap Sexual Assault Settlements Overview:
- Who: The University of California paid out nearly $700 million in settlements to women who allege they were sexually assaulted by a campus gynecologist.
- Why: The women, some of whom were cancer patients, say the doctor sexually abused them and the university did not do enough to investigate and prevent it.
- Where: The case was filed in California federal court.
The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) paid nearly $700 million in settlements to hundreds of patients who claim former UCLA gynecologist and oncologist James Heaps sexually abused them, The Washington Post reported.
The news comes as UCLA agreed to another massive round of settlements in the case, likely setting a record for a public university resolving sexual abuse allegations, officials said May 24, according to The Washington Post.
The recently disclosed settlements total $374.4 million and resolve lawsuits that 312 women filed in state court.
The settlements come after UCLA agreed in February to pay $243.6 million to more than 200 women who say Heaps sexually assaulted them, some while they were cancer patients.
A judge approved an additional $73 million settlement in July 2021. That case involved more than 5,500 women who alleged Heaps sexually abused and assaulted them.
After that settlement, more patients came forward to accuse the former UCLA gynecologist of sexual abuse, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Heaps Pleaded Not Guilty to Criminal Charges, Awaits Trial
In total, UCLA’s payouts in regards to Heaps have reached more than $688 million.
Heaps was arrested in 2019 and has been charged with 21 counts of sexual offenses, attorneys said, including sexual exploitation, sexual battery by fraud and sexual penetration of an unconscious person by fraudulent representation, The Washington Post reported.
He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting criminal trial.
Separately, civil lawsuits have also alleged that UCLA concealed Heaps’ sexual abuse, The Washington Post reported. Patients complained of inappropriate touching and comments during gynecologic procedures.
If you were sexually assaulted — even if it happened years ago — and the abuse took place in California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Vermont, Maine or Pennsylvania, you may qualify to join a sexual assault lawsuit investigation. See if you qualify for a free case evaluation with a sexual assault attorney by filling out the free form on this page.
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