Irvine California – Attorneys representing Jane Doe 1, a 44-year-old cancer patient, filed a lawsuit today accusing former UCLA gynecologist/oncologist of repeatedly sexually assaulting her during her two years of treatment.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was battling mesothelioma when in October 2015 she went to Heaps for surgery, she said.
During four visits that stretch to June 2017, the woman alleges Heaps abused his position of trust to improperly touch her clitoris, repeatedly fondle her breasts, and squeeze her nipples — all under the guise of medical examination.
The lawsuit further alleges that during a sexual assault of Jane Doe 1, “A UCLA Heath-employed nurse finally entered the examination room. However, even when the UCLA Health-employed nurse entered the examination room, she did not look at Plaintiff or HEAPS but instead walked straight to her computer and sat with her back turned to HEAPS; in direct dereliction of her duty to supervise HEAPS.”
“All sexual abuse is horrific, but taking advantage of a cancer patient who literally places her life in her doctor’s hands is ghoulish,” said sexual abuse victim’s attorney John Manly.
Even worse is the fact that UCLA has admitted that they received complaints about Dr. Heaps' misconduct before my client first met him, yet they did nothing and allowed him to continue practicing medicine throughout the two years he abused her,” said Mr. Manly.
According to media reports, at least 22 other women have stepped forward alleging that Heaps sexually assaulted them while he was practicing at UCLA. The University also discovered two other complaints about Heaps while it was investigating a 2017 allegation.
In addition, about 75 people have contacted UCLA about Heaps since the University announced that Los Angeles County prosecutors had filed charges last week. Heaps also faces criminal charges of sexual battery on two patients.
Manly Stewart & Finaldi currently represent more than 20 alleged victims of Dr. James Heaps.
Manly Stewart & Finaldi is California’s leading law firm representing child victims of sexual abuse. The firm has represented more than 150 victims of clergy sexual abuse in California and hundreds of others throughout the United States. The firm also represented plaintiffs in the $140,000,000 settlement against LAUSD in the Miramonte case, the largest sex abuse settlement against a School District in the US. The firm currently represents more than 180 alleged victims of former Michigan State University and U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Team doctor Larry Nassar. Michigan State University has settled this case for $500,000,000, the largest settlement of any personal injury case against a University. In 2018, the firm settled cases against the Torrance Unified School District for $31 million on behalf of alleged victims of former wrestling coach and convicted child molester Thomas Snider; against Los Angeles Unified School district for $8 million in cases involving former football coach and convicted child molester Jamie Jimenez; and for $14 million in cases involving former Los Angeles Unified District employee Ronnie Lee Roman.
