Survivors of "predator" ex-Columbia gynecologist reach huge settlement

New York, New York - Columbia University and a New York hospital have reached a $750-million settlement with hundreds of women sexually assaulted by a former gynecologist, a lawyer for the survivors said Tuesday.

Robert Hadden, a gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, is pictured in Manhattan Supreme Court on February 23, 2016.
Robert Hadden, a gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, is pictured in Manhattan Supreme Court on February 23, 2016.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Robert Hadden, described by prosecutors as a "predator in a white coat," is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted last year of sexual abuse.

Hadden was accused of abusing scores of women between the early 1990s and 2012, including Evelyn Yang, whose husband Andrew Yang ran for president in 2020 as a Democratic Party outsider.

Attorney Anthony DiPietro, who represented some of Hadden's victims, said the $750-million settlement with Columbia and New York-Presbyterian Hospital involves 576 of the doctor's former patients.

"This settlement sends a powerful message that we're here to ensure that institutions covering up exploitation and abuse will be held fully accountable for their crimes," DiPietro said in a statement.

Survivors speak out on settlement

Evelyn Yang speaks to reporters following Robert Hadden's conviction in federal court in New York on January 24, 2023.
Evelyn Yang speaks to reporters following Robert Hadden's conviction in federal court in New York on January 24, 2023.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Evelyn Yang, who told CNN in 2020 that she was assaulted by Hadden in 2012 while seven months pregnant, and another woman, Marissa Hoechstetter, welcomed the settlement in a joint statement on X.

"Another enormous milestone has been reached in Hadden survivors' long quest for justice," they said. "As remarkable as this moment is, we know the numbers represent only a fraction of the reach of Hadden's crimes."

They added that Columbia still had "significant work to do" to address the cover-up and the systemic issues that enabled "the most prolific sexual predator in US history."

In a statement, Columbia said it had implemented "a series of new and updated patient safety policies and programs to address the abuses of Robert Hadden."

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) previously announced it had reached a $165-million settlement with 147 of Hadden's patients.

Columbia also agreed to a $71.5-million settlement in 2021 between its hospitals and another 79 of Hadden's patients.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

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