Columbia College reaches $165 million cope with victims abused by former physician By Reuters

By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) – Columbia College and its affiliated hospitals stated {that a} $165 million settlement was reached with practically 150 sufferers of a former gynecologist, who was accused of sexual abuse by dozens of ladies.

Robert Hadden, the previous gynecologist, pleaded responsible in 2016 to 2 New York state fees of a legal intercourse act within the third diploma and forcible touching. Hadden is now awaiting trial in federal court docket on eight legal counts of bringing ladies throughout state strains for alleged sexual abuse from 1993 to 2012.

A $71.5 million settlement had been reached in December between the establishment and a gaggle of 79 ladies, who had been Hadden’s sufferers. On Friday, the college stated in a press release that Columbia College Irving Medical Middle and the NewYork-Presbyterian hospital reached an settlement with a remaining group of 147 sufferers for $165 million.

The college added that Hadden has not labored as a health care provider since 2012.

The hospitals will set up a compensation fund to distribute the cash, the college stated.

“We deeply remorse the ache that Robert Hadden’s sufferers suffered and hope that these resolutions will present some measure of assist for the ladies he harm. All those that got here ahead ought to be counseled,” the college stated.

A consultant of Hadden couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

The sexual abuse settlement is the newest involving a prestigious U.S. tutorial establishment.

In September, the College of Michigan stated a $490 million settlement with greater than 1,000 individuals who alleged sexual assault by a former sports activities physician was finalized.