The University of California (UCLA) has reached a settlement for over $ 60 million with seven women accusing a prestigious university gynecologist of sexual abuse.
With the settlement at least 6,600 women who have been treated by the gynecologist can claim part of the settlement. Even if they haven’t accused him of the abuse.
An expert panel decides on the amount to be paid out. A judge still has to give permission for the settlement.
Criminal case
The accusations against the gynecologist date from a period from 1983 to 2018. The man allegedly assaulted women during investigations and touched them without gloves. He is also said to have made sexual comments to patients.
The settlement is separate from the criminal case against the gynecologist, which is still pending. The doctor contradicts all charges and receives support from a number of former patients.
‘Small step forward’
The university decided to settle anyway, “because the incidents in the lawsuit are about alleged behavior that violates our values,” UCLA told AP news agency. The university further thanked the women who started the case, calling the settlement “a small step forward”.
According to UCLA, an investigation into the gynecologist started in 2017. The man retired in 2018, when the university did not renew his contract. After he was arrested for the case in June 2019, some 200 former patients reported to the university.
Similar settlement
Earlier this year, a US judge approved a settlement in a similar case. In it, the University of Southern California (USC) decided to award more than 180 million euros to victims of sexual and harassment by a gynecologist.
That case involved 18,000 patients.
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