The University of California agreed to pay up to $244 million to approximately 200 women who accuse gynecologist James Heaps, who worked within the institution's network, of sexual misconduct, some of which dates back to 1983. This settlement, revealed on Tuesday, includes civil claims from patients regarding alleged actions and sexual assaults. The women have accused Dr. Heaps, a specialist in oncology, of sexual violations, and they criticized the University of California in Los Angeles, which employed him, for covering up his actions and not taking any action against him despite being reported about his practices.
A statement from the university condemned the actions attributed to Heaps and described them as contrary to the institution's values, commending the "courage of the complainants," according to Agence France-Presse. This settlement adds to a class-action lawsuit filed by over 5,000 women, resulting in $73 million in compensation. Approximately 300 other women filed civil claims against James Heaps, who is also facing criminal charges for assaults against seven women, according to the French agency.
Last month, the University of Michigan announced it would pay nearly half a billion dollars to about 1,000 students and former athletes who were sexually assaulted by doctor Richard Anderson. In another case, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles agreed to pay $1.1 billion through three different settlements to hundreds of women who were victims of a former gynecologist at its campus, marking the largest compensation of its kind offered to date.
