Doctor Sexual Abuse – UCLA

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault from a doctor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), another employee of UCLA, or a physician in another capacity, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi can help. We are one of the country’s leading law firms in sexual assault, abuse and violence cases. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience and compassion to successfully represent you in a lawsuit or class action against a school, university, college or another major institution for sexual abuse or assault. Contact us today for a free and confidential case review.

Why Clients Trust Us With Their Most Sensitive Cases

  • Attorney John Manly has more than 25 years of practice-area experience. He represented survivors in the successful case against UCLA for the crimes of Dr. James Heaps and negligence by the university.
  • We have previously acquired record-breaking settlements for clients in cases against other colleges and universities for doctor sexual abuse, including cases against USC and the University of Michigan.
  • At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we will put you and your needs above all else. We can keep your identity and case details private and 100 percent confidential, if desired, for greater security and peace of mind.

What Is Doctor Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is often committed by people in positions of power. A common example is a medical professional taking advantage of his or her patients – patients who often do not know if the doctor’s actions are inappropriate or abusive. Patients inherently trust their doctors. This is especially true of doctors employed by a school or university that the patient attends. If a doctor engages in inappropriate behaviors, such as unnecessary physical exams, sexual touching during an exam, asking a patient to disrobe in front of the doctor or taking photographs of a patient’s genitals, it is sexual abuse.

Case Against UCLA and Dr. James Heaps Results in $73 Million Settlement

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we have represented hundreds of survivors of doctor sexual abuse within school institutions. This includes our work on the USC case involving Dr. George Tyndall, which resulted in the largest sexual abuse settlement against a university in history ($852 million). We also represented clients in the recent case against UCLA for the sexual abuse of around 6,000 women by former UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps.

In this case, survivors alleged that from 1983 to 2018, Dr. James Heaps made inappropriate comments during examinations, groped patients, simulated intercourse with an ultrasound probe and committed other sexually abusive acts while working as a gynecologist at the UCLA Student Health Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and his office on campus. The class-action lawsuit also named UCLA as a defendant for failing to take action against Heaps after receiving numerous complaints.

On July 12, 2021, a federal judge approved a $73 million settlement against Heaps and UCLA. The settlement will be distributed among survivors in an amount deemed appropriate according to the level of emotional distress and bodily injury suffered by each, as decided by a panel of experts. Although UCLA did not admit to any wrongdoing in the Dr. Heaps case, it did agree to change its policies for preventing, investigating and addressing sexual misconduct among its staff after the settlement.

Are You a Survivor of Doctor Sexual Abuse at UCLA? We Can Help

Doctor sexual abuse can result in immense emotional, mental and psychological distress for survivors. It can also lead to traumatic injuries from sexual violence. Universities such as UCLA have a legal obligation to protect their students. If you or someone you love is a survivor of UCLA sexual abuse, don’t hesitate to contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for a confidential case review.

Our attorneys will listen to your story and believe you if you allege that a doctor or another medical professional was sexually abusive or inappropriate. We have years of experience handling doctor sexual abuse claims and claims against colleges and universities specifically. We have what it takes to represent you. Find out how we can help you by requesting a free consultation today. Or call (855) 944-0710.