Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital have reached a landmark agreement to pay $750 million to victims who suffered sexual abuse by former doctor Robert A. Hadden. This settlement marks a significant moment as total legal payouts now exceed $1 billion following years of accusations. Hadden, who practiced for two decades, avoided jail time initially before being convicted on federal charges in 2023, receiving a 20-year prison sentence. The revelations highlight systemic failures in protecting patients and negligence in handling multiple complaints against him.
The settlements come from 576 legal cases against Columbia, the hospital and others over Hadden's abuse; the average payout to plaintiffs will be about $1.3 million, according to Anthony DiPietro, the plaintiffs' lawyer.
By 2016, Hadden had been accused of abuse by 19 patients and agreed to a plea deal with the Manhattan district attorney's office in which he avoided prison time but gave up his medical license.
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