Class action lawsuit filed against UCLA gynecologist

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two women say in a federal class action lawsuit they were sexually assaulted by a former gynecologist who worked for the University of California, Los Angeles.

The lawsuit says that Dr. James Heaps sexually assaulted the women and made sexually inappropriate comments during their appointments. The class action lawsuit is the latest lawsuit to be filed against Heaps and UCLA, though others have been pursued through state court.

Heaps has been criminally charged with the sexual battery of two patients, but he denies any wrongdoing. He has pleaded not guilty.

Representatives for the plaintiffs, UCLA and Heaps could not immediately be reached Monday afternoon.

The lawsuit was filed last Tuesday against Heaps, the university system's regents and other unnamed defendants in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.