Columbia University has agreed to a landmark $750 million settlement with 576 victims of former gynecologist Robert Hadden, totaling over $1 billion in damages. The settlement follows Hadden's conviction for sexual abuse and aims to hold the institution accountable for enabling his predatory behavior. Victims and their attorney criticized Columbia for prioritizing its reputation over patient safety, with past failures to act against Hadden's actions. This settlement marks a significant step towards accountability, highlighting systemic issues in how institutions handle abuse allegations.
"This settlement is not about money - it's about accountability," said victim Laurie Maldonando.
"Columbia University enabled sadistic abuse," said Maldonando, who was a patient of Hadden's for nearly a decade, "and now, they've been forced to face the truth."
"For far too long, Columbia and New York-Presbyterian have prioritized protecting their reputations over protecting their patients," said attorney Anthony T. DiPietro.
"This settlement sends a powerful message that we're here to ensure that institutions are held accountable for their actions."
Collection
[
|
...
]