Dr. James Heaps UCLA Sexual Abuse Lawsuits – Deadline May 6

Were you a patient of Dr. James Heaps? Have you suffered inappropriate conduct, sexual abuse or sexual assault by him or any other physician or employee of a UCLA medical clinic?

If so, a new law may allow you to hold UCLA accountable for what happened to you – even if the abuse occurred decades ago. Manly, Stewart & Finaldi can protect your rights and fight for justice on your behalf.

  • Manly, Stewart & Finaldi is America’s leading law form for sexual abuse cases.
  • Our attorneys understand how to help survivors of sexual assault and how to hold institutions accountable for allowing abuses to happen.
  • We recently helped 180 survivors secure a $500 million settlement against Michigan State University in the Dr. Larry Nassar case.

May 6 Deadline To Preserve Your Rights

If you received a Legal Notice of Settlement of Class Action in A.B. et. al. vs. The Regents of the University of California; James Mason Heaps, M.D., you have been identified as a possible victim of sexual misconduct by Dr. James Heaps and negligence by UCLA. This notice relates to a Federal class action settlement of claims against Dr. Heaps and UCLA.

It is important to understand that unless you (or a lawyer acting on your behalf) “opt you out” out of the Federal class action before the May 6 deadline, you will forever lose the ability to file an individual lawsuit.

Anyone who believes they were assaulted by Dr. Heaps or any other UCLA employee or physician should contact an experienced sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible.

Manly, Stewart & Finaldi offers a free and confidential case evaluation and never charges a fee until we successfully resolve your case.  We understand how difficult and sensitive these matters can be, so your claim can be resolved with complete confidentiality.

Sexual Abuses by Dr. Heaps and Justice for All Survivors

An investigation into UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps uncovered decades of sexual abuse and assault. As a result, Dr. James Heaps has been terminated by UCLA and is facing 20 counts of felony sexual assault.

The allegations facing Dr. Heaps include conduct ranging from:

  • Sexually Suggestive questions and commentary
  • Inappropriate touching
  • Invasive genital, anal and breast exams
  • Among others

New Law Gives Past Victims the Right to Sue

However, because Dr. Heaps has been employed by UCLA in some capacity since 1983, legislators have extended the normal 10 year statute of limitations to cover any of his abuses.

The new bill, AB – 3092 was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsome on September 30th, 2020.   The bill lifts the statute of limitations for those abused by Dr. James Heaps, allowing all survivors to file civil suit regardless of how long ago those abuses occurred.

It opens claims for damages for assaults that occurred between January 1, 1983 and January 1, 2019, that would have otherwise been barred solely because the statute of limitations had expired. AB – 3092 covers any abuse not only by Dr. Heaps, but by any other physician or employee of any UCLA medical clinic.

UCLA is Responsible for the Abuses by Dr. Heaps and Others

While Dr. Heaps is the perpetrator of the abuse, his employer is legally responsible for his actions.  A UC Board of Reagents investigative committee found that UCLA’s handling of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against Dr. Heaps and four other physicians employed by the university over three decades to be inadequate, delayed or both.

UCLA should have done more to protect patients, but did not. As a result, more than 200 women have filed lawsuits against UCLA in the Dr. Heaps case.

When was Dr. Heaps employed by UCLA?

Dr. Heaps was directly employed by UCLA as an OB-GYN from 2014 to 2018.  However, his association with UCLA medical facilities extends far beyond that.

  • Dr. Heaps served on the faculty at the UCLA Medical School from 1989 until 2018.
  • From 1990 through 2014, Dr. Heaps had a private practice with privileges at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
  • Dr. Heaps was a consulting physician for UCLA Student Health from 1983 through 2010.

Due to his longstanding employment and association with UCLA medical facilities, abuses from as far back as 1983 may have occurred.  This is why the statute of limitations window was modified for that time frame.

Manly, Stewart & Finaldi Can Help

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we have decades of experience representing survivors of sexual abuse. We take a trauma-informed approach and put every client’s needs first.  We are not afraid to stand up to powerful institutions in pursuit of justice and have recovered more than $2 billion in compensation on behalf of our clients.

If you were a patient and experienced inappropriate conduct or sexual abuse, contact us today to hold Dr. Heaps and UCLA accountable.