Whether from online news articles or daily news programs, you may have heard about the case of Dr. Robert Hadden – a former Columbia University gynecologist criminally convicted of several counts of unlawful sexual abuse and misconduct.
Robert Hadden was able to evade criminal charges for years, but was recently convicted of four federal sex abuse charges and faces life in prison.
Former patients are seeking justice in civil lawsuits filed against the institutions that enabled Robert Hadden.
So far, The DiPietro Law Firm has helped clients recover over $236 million in compensation from Columbia University and its affiliates for Hadden’s sexual abuse.
This blog post will discuss:
Here are some quick facts about Dr. Robert Hadden:
Some of the first stories of Hadden’s disturbing pattern of sexual assault came out in June 2012, when a former patient reported to the police that the doctor had sexually abused her during a medical examination.
Despite that report, Hadden was not charged with a crime because of insufficient evidence.
This prompted more of Hadden’s victims to come forward.
In June 2013, at least seven women, including past patients and a former staff member, filed a lawsuit against Hadden in Manhattan Supreme Court.
A Manhattan Supreme Court grand jury eventually indicted Dr. Robert Hadden in June 2014.
This covered six counts of sexual misconduct, including charges of sexual abuse, criminal sex act, and forcible touching, which should have landed him in prison.
More and more lawsuits against Dr. Robert Hadden and Columbia University came forward.
However, the sexual predator was able to dodge accountability for his actions.
In 2016 he agreed to a guilty plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where Cyrus Vance Jr. was the district attorney at the time.
Out of the nine charges against him, Hadden pleaded guilty to only two: forcibly touching and sexual abuse in the third degree.
Because of this, the New York State Court did not sentence Hadden to prison but demanded that he surrender his medical license and register as a sex offender.
Robert Hadden was again indicted in September 2020 for six counts of enticing and inducing victims to cross state lines to engage in illegal sexual conduct.
These victims included five adults and a minor.
He was allowed to post bail for one million dollars despite the federal charges.
A press release from the US Department of Justice revealed that Dr. Robert Hadden sexually abused patients, including female adults, pregnant women, and multiple minors, from approximately 1993 to 2012.
Federal prosecutors stated that Hadden performed several vile acts in a previously sealed indictment, including:
In January 2023, Hadden was convicted on four of the six charges handed down in 2020.
In lawsuits led by The DiPietro Law Firm, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital settled with 79 of Hadden’s former female patients for almost $71.5 million in December 2021.
In October 2022, The DiPietro Law Firm achieved another settlement for 147 victims totaling $165 million.
Robert Hadden’s federal trial began Monday, January 9, 2023, for six counts of enticing and inducing victims, which included two pregnant women and a minor.
The federal court convicted him for four of the six counts on January 24, 2023.
Each of the federal charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Robert Hadden faces life in prison.
Hadden’s victims and federal prosecutors appealed for his detention while waiting for his sentencing on April 25.
Manhattan judge Richard Berman sided with them, ordering the despicable doctor remanded into custody on February 1, 2023.
The civil litigation against the institutions that enabled Robert Hadden continues under the newly enacted Adult Survivor’s Act.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault by Robert Hadden, you are eligible to file a confidential or anonymous claim.
Contact The DiPietro Law Firm for more information and assistance.
We’re here to help.
Lawsuits filed against Columbia and its affiliates for Robert Hadden’s sexual abuse were instrumental in the passing the New York Adult Survivors Act.
This legislation extended the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit in cases of sexual assault.
Signed into law in May 2022, the New York Adult Survivors Act allows victims to file lawsuits against their abusers regardless of when the sexual abuse occurred.
The “look back window” is from November 24, 2022, to November 24, 2023.
Robert Hadden is a prime example of a powerful and influential authority figure hiding behind his white coat to take advantage of vulnerable patients.
His case serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, not even esteemed doctors of prestigious medical institutions.
All patients should be aware that there are laws in place to protect them from possible sexual abuse by medical providers.
If you have been a victim of Dr. Hadden or any other medical professional, here are some steps you can take.
The help of an experienced sexual abuse lawyer is invaluable to sexual abuse survivors seeking justice.
A sexual harassment lawyer will provide expert legal advice, represent you in court, and help you seek financial compensation for your suffering.
The DiPietro Law Firm has been leading the fight against Columbia and Robert Hadden since the beginning.
Document anything that you may have related to the assault, including any photos, videos, voice recordings, medical records, and police reports.
The DiPietro Law Firm is staff with legal experts and advocates for victims of sexual abuse.
Our trauma-informed approach guarantees complete confidentiality and anonymity.
Your sexual abuse lawyer will use the evidence you have gathered, and they have helped you gather, to build a case against the parties responsible.
They will also guide and prepare you for the legal process.
A lawsuit can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience, but having solid legal representation and the backing of a staff that cares about you can make all the difference.
Robert Hadden will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars, but The DiPietro Law Firm will not stop until justice is served to all parties responsible for the crimes that occurred.
For the past decade, The DiPietro Law Firm has been leading the fight against Columbia University and its affiliates.
If you have been a victim of Robert Hadden, you are eligible to file a legal claim.
We offer free, no obligation, 100 percent confidential consultations.
We are here to support you throughout this process.
Together, we can do our part to ensure that abusers like Robert Hadden are never allowed to serve in a position of medical authority again.
We’re currently investigating this case and many other cases involving serial sexual predators.
As more information becomes available on our cases, we will share it on the The DiPietro Law Firm Twitter account (@atdipietro).
If you’re a survivor of sexual exploitation and abuse, please contact our Free Consultation Helpline for a 100% confidential and free consultation about your case at (212) 233-3600.
You’re not alone anymore.
Somebody who sexually assaults patients under the guise of medical care DOES NOT deserve salutations.
Robert Hadden is not a doctor. Robert Hadden is a convicted sexual felon and is facing life in prison for the crimes he committed.
The only reason the DiPietro Law Firm uses “Dr. Robert Hadden” in some of our content is so that victims are able to find us when searching for help.
Here, at The DiPietro Law Firm, we’re committed to helping victims of sexual abuse and assault find the justice they deserve.
All information discussed during our consultations always remains completely 100% confidential.
Would you like our help?
Founder Anthony T. DiPietro, Esq. is a compassionate and skilled trial attorney who has completely dedicated the past 23 years of his career to litigating medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases against major corporate institutions including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and other wrongdoers.
Mr. DiPietro has also obtained some of New York State’s highest verdicts and settlements, and has been selected to New York State Super Lawyers® each year, for the past 10 years in a row.
In 2022, Mr. DiPietro was selected as one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators for the landmark cases he’s won on behalf of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse.
