Lawsuits have been filed by women who were sexually assaulted during gynecological exams by Dr. Robert Hadden, a former OB-GYN at Columbia University.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting sexual abuse induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been sexually abused by Dr. Robert Hadden, a former gynecologist at Columbia University, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Sexual Abuse Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Hospitals Agree to $165 Million Settlement in Dr. Hadden Sex Abuse Lawsuits
In October 2022, Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian agreed to a $165 million settlement with 147 women and teenage girls who said they were sexually assaulted during gynecological exams by Robert Hadden, a former OB/GYN who worked from 1993 and 2012.
Dr. Robert Hadden Hit With Sex Abuse Lawsuits
On September 9, 2020, the Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment that accuses Dr. Robert Hadden, a former OB-GYN at Columbia University in New York, of sexually abusing patients during exams from 1993-2012.
What is the Problem?
Lawsuits and the federal indictment accuse Dr. Hadden of numerous sexual abuses, including:
- Secretly licking patients’ vaginas
- Performing multiple breast exams per appointment
- Groping breasts and nipples
- Conducting extremely long and sexualized breast exams
- Using ungloved fingers to digitally penetrate vaginas and anuses without a valid medical purpose
- Frequently talking about inappropriate sexual topics without prompting from patients
- And more
Dr. Hadden Was Arrested in 2012 — But Returned to Work
Dr. Hadden was arrested in his office in 2012 after a patient told police that he licked her vagina during an exam. Unfortunately, the arrest was voided, and Columbia University allowed him to keep working.
Six weeks after his arrest, he allegedly sexually assaulted Evelyn Yang, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, when she was pregnant.
Lawsuits Filed by 70+ Women Who Were Sexually Abused
By February 2020, more than 70 women had joined lawsuits after being sexually abused by Dr. Hadden, including 2 teenage girls. Evelyn Yang also filed a lawsuit that claims Columbia University “actively concealed, conspired, and enabled” Dr. Hadden’s sexual exploitation.
Justice Department Calls Dr. Hadden “A Predator In A White Coat”
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss called Dr. Hadden “a predator in a white coat” who “inappropriately touched, squeezed and even licked his victims.”
He was arrested on September 9, 2020, and charged with enticing 6 victims to travel to New York to be sexually abused, including a minor.
“Between 1993 and 2012, Robert Hadden sexually abused dozens of women and girls during OB-GYN examinations at his medical offices,” according to U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss.
“[Dr. Hadden] used the examinations of his victims for his own sexual gratification, abusing dozens of victims over a nearly 20-year period, including multiple minor girls, one of whom Hadden had himself delivered.”
Federal authorities are now asking anyone who worked with Dr. Hadden to come forward if they noticed suspicious behavior.
Columbia University Was Warned About Dr. Hadden in mid-1990s
According to CNN, Columbia University was warned about Dr. Hadden’s behavior in the mid-1990s.
In 1994, a former patient of Dr. Hadden reported her sexual abuse to Columbia’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The head of the department wrote a letter to acknowledge that her complaints had been received and would be addressed — but they never were.
Do I have a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting sexual abuse induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been sexually abused by OB-GYN gynecologist Dr. Robert Hadden at Columbia University, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Sexual Abuse Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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