Attorney Jeff Herman AND Survivors of convicted sexual abuser Robert
Hadden will be holding a Press Conference on Friday, November 10, 2023
at 1:00 pm on the steps of the New York Public Library
The Survivors will give a statement and answer questions.
This lawsuit is filed under The New York Adult Survivors Act, which expires on
November 23, 2023
NEW YORK, NY – HERMAN LAW announces the filing of a GROUP ACTION
LAWSUIT on behalf of 159 survivors of convicted sexual abuser former doctor
ROBERT HADDEN against THE NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL. The
lawsuit alleges that for decades, HADDEN sexually assaulted patients while
working at the COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL and its affiliated hospitals
and medical offices. Hadden was convicted on January 24, 2023, and on July 25,
2023, sentenced to 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The
Court described Hadden’s conduct as “exceptional and unprecedented,”
“shocking in the extreme,” “horrific,” and “depraved.”
According to attorney Jeff Herman, “We have evidence that Columbia University
Hospital was notified in the early 1990’s that Hadden was sexually abusing his
patients and that it had multiple opportunities to stop his abuse. Instead,
Columbia University Hospital allowed Hadden to continue his medical practice.
We are resolute in holding Columbia University Hospital accountable for its
failure to take appropriate action, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of
patients being sexually abused.”
The NEW YORK ADULT SURVIVORS ACT created a one-year window for
survivors of sexual violence to file lawsuits against their abusers. The Adult
Survivors Act grants survivors the opportunity to file legal claims, regardless of
an expired statute of limitations. The window closes on November 23, 2023.
Summary of the facts from the complaint:
– Between approximately 1992 and 2012, HADDEN sexually abused hundreds
of female patients under the guise of purported gynecological and obstetrical
care.
– Upon information and belief, DEFENDANTS were put on notice by numerous
victims of HADDEN including, but not limited to, the following instances:
o In 1992, a nurse who worked with HADDEN walked in on HADDEN
sexually abusing a victim at one of DEFENDANTS’ facilities. When the
nurse reported to her supervisor that she had observed HADDEN
sexually abusing a patient, the supervisor’s response was for the nurse
to “keep quiet,” “stay with your doctor,” and “don’t let him get himself in
trouble.”
– In 1993, DEFENDANTS received a letter detailing HADDEN’s sexual
abuse of a victim. DEFENDANTS responded that they would
investigate, but no further action was taken. HADDEN remained in his
position and continued to sexually abuse patients.
– In 1994, DEFENDANTS received a letter from a victim of HADDEN’s
that detailed the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of HADDEN
at one of DEFENDANTS’ hospitals. The head of the hospital’s
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit responded with a letter
to the victim acknowledging receipt and stated that the victim’s
concerns would be addressed. According to the victim, no one from the
hospital ever followed up or took action.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Hudson
rhudson@hermanlaw.com
610-639-6877
PRESS CONFERENCE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023, at 1:00PM
STEPS IN FRONT OF NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, 476 FIFTH AVENUE
