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UCLA to pay record of nearly $700M in doctor abuse lawsuits

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The University of California system announced Tuesday it will pay nearly $375 million to more than 300 women who said they were sexually abused by a UCLA gynecologist, bringing a record amount in total payouts by a public university in a wave of sexual misconduct scandals by campus doctors.

The settlement followed previous deals with hundreds of other patients who said Dr. James Heaps groped them, made suggestive comments or conducted unnecessarily invasive exams during his 35-year career.

'œDr. Heaps sexually abused patients for years while UCLA Health put profits over their safety," attorney Jennifer McGrath said in a statement. 'œToday's settlement is the result of the bravery of these victims, and sends a message that healthcare institutions must protect vulnerable patients and act decisively at complaints of abuse.'ť

The university has agreed to pay nearly $700 million to Heap's patients, dwarfing a $500 million settlement by Michigan State University in 2018 that was considered the largest by a public university. The University of Southern California, a private institution, has agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle thousands of cases against the school's longtime gynecologist.

Heaps, 65, who retired as the scandal unfolded, has pleaded not guilty to 21 felony counts for allegedly sexually assaulting seven women.

Women who brought the lawsuits said UCLA ignored their complaints and deliberately concealed abuse that happened for decades during examinations at the UCLA student health center, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center or in Heaps' campus office.

UCLA acknowledged it received a sex abuse complaint against Heaps from a patient in December 2017 and it launched an investigation the following month that concluded she was sexually assaulted and harassed, attorneys said.

Heaps, however, continued to practice until his retirement in June 2018. The university did not release its finding in the investigation until November 2019 - months after Heaps was arrested.

The university previously reached settlements with other patients of Heaps for $316 million. The most recent settlement with 312 women resolves the vast majority of claims against Heaps, the university said.

'œThe conduct alleged to have been committed by Heaps is reprehensible and contrary to our values,'ť UCLA said in a statement. 'œWe are grateful to all those who came forward, and hope this settlement is one step toward providing some level of healing for the plaintiffs involved.'ť

The university said it would pay for the settlements through a combination of insurance, risk financing and capital bond proceeds.

Sex abuse by doctors on college campuses has led to massive settlements at Ohio State University, Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University.

Michigan State paid $500 million to 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by Larry Nassar, who was a campus sports doctor and a doctor for USA Gymnastics. Nassar, who also sexually abused Olympic gold medal gymnasts, is serving prison sentences likely to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.

The University of Michigan reached a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 people who said they were sexually assaulted by the late Dr. Robert Anderson, during his nearly four-decade career as a sports doctor at the school.

FILE - In this June 26, 2019 file photo UCLA gynecologist James Heaps, center, and his wife, Deborah Heaps, arrive at Los Angeles Superior Court. The University of California has agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle allegations that several hundred women were sexually abused by Heaps. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File) The Associated Press
FILE - Former UCLA gynecologist James Heaps arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court on June 26, 2019. A lawsuit alleging that the former UCLA gynecologist sexually abused hundreds of women has been settled for $246.3 million. The amount of the settlement was announced Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, by UCLA and some of the lawyers representing 203 women. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) The Associated Press
Two victims of UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps hold hands during a press conference, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Los Angeles. A lawsuit settlement against the University of California regents was announced Tuesday in Los Angeles where 312 former patients of ex-UCLA gynecologist Heaps will be compensated. Heaps also was criminally charged last year with 21 counts of sexual offenses involving seven women. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press
FILE - Former UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps, center, with his wife Deborah, left, and defense attorney Tracy Green leave Los Angeles Superior Court, on June 26, 2019. The University of California has agreed to pay $375 million to more than 300 women who said they were sexually abused by a longtime UCLA gynecologist. The announcement Tuesday, May 24, 2022, brings total payouts by the university in lawsuits against Dr. Heap to nearly $700 million. That's the largest amount paid by a public university in a wave of sexual misconduct scandals involving campus doctors. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) The Associated Press
FILE - UCLA gynecologist James Heaps appears in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. The University of California has agreed to pay $375 million to more than 300 women who said they were sexually abused by a longtime UCLA gynecologist. The announcement Tuesday, May 24, 2022, brings total payouts by the university in lawsuits against Dr. Heap to nearly $700 million. That's the largest amount paid by a public university in a wave of sexual misconduct scandals involving campus doctors. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File) The Associated Press
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