[2024 Guide] What to Know: Columbia University & Dr. Robert Hadden Lawsuit

Who Is Dr. Robert Hadden and What Did He Do?

Former Columbia University gynecologist Robert Hadden has been the subject of news headlines since 2013 for the egregious sexual crimes he committed at several medical facilities in New York City.

He has been convicted twice of sexual abuse-related crimes, once in 2016 and in 2023.

However, the sexual abuse began many years before that, during his early years as an OB/GYN at two prestigious Manhattan hospitals: Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

As early as 1993, Hadden sexually abused patients who sought professional medical care.

He would establish a rapport with women under his care to gain their trust.

Once he gained their confidence, he’d begin sexually assaulting them under the guise of medical examinations and schedule follow-up appointments to continue the abuse.

Over the years, complaints and reports about his behavior started piling up.

These deplorable acts began to come to the attention of the media and authorities when the doctor was finally put under criminal investigation in 2013.

Hadden pleaded guilty in 2016 and struck a plea deal with the Manhattan District attorney’s office for his crimes, facing no jail time and being placed on the lowest tier of the sex offender list.

In return for lenient sentencing, Hadden surrendered his medical license.

Victims were appalled at the lack of accountability he faced and the fact that Columbia faced no repercussions for allowing Hadden to abuse patients in private for decades.

In 2020, Hadden was federally charged with four counts of inducing and enticing patients to travel across state lines in order to abuse them.

In January 2023, he was finally charged with four counts of enticing and inducing four individuals, including a minor, to engage in unlawful sexual abuse.

He faces life in prison for these charges, and Columbia is still facing new civil lawsuit claims by victims filed in accordance with the Adult Survivor’s Act.

The Role of Columbia University in Robert Hadden's Sexual Abuse

The medical institutions that Hadden worked in were complicit in his crimes.

The only reason that Robert Hadden was able to sexually abuse women at the scale he did was because these institutions were enabling his behavior and protecting him from prosecution.

Female patients were reporting his crimes as early as 1993, but these reports all fell on deaf ears.

Victims and hospital staff  were telling supervisors that Hadden was acting inappropriately with his patients.

Higher-ups and administrators covered up these incidents, as proven by internal reports.

The hospital’s administration had known that Hadden was sexually assaulting patients, but chose to keep Hadden employed and gave him a pass to continue his crimes.

Their efforts to cover up the scandal involved directing women to Columbia University’s legal department.

The institution’s attorneys then spoke to the women, paid them a settlement amount, and made them sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Instead of going to law enforcement and having Hadden criminally investigated, Columbia University prevented victims from speaking out about Hadden.

After Hadden was convicted in 2016, the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) mandated Columbia University to notify all of Hadden’s former patients that he’s lost his medical license.

However, the institution failed to notify 6,000-8,000 women that had appointments with the predator doctor, purporting that it was Hadden’s responsibility to do so.

Columbia University’s actions and complicity in Hadden’s crimes won’t go unpunished.

Victims, represented by our law firm, are filing additional lawsuits against Columbia University and its affiliates.

Development of the Robert Hadden Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

It took a long time before the former Columbia University gynecologist convicted of sexual abuse was put behind bars.

Hadden was already committing criminal sex acts in 1993, and possibly even earlier.

However, the first police report came only in 2012.

By 2013, at least three women filed sexual abuse lawsuits against Hadden.

More women came forward to share their stories and experiences of sexual assault at Hadden’s gynecological appointments.

In 2016, Hadden pleaded guilty to the charges brought in 2014.

However, he was not imprisoned, only losing his medical license.

This enraged many of the victims. Still, the fight for justice wasn’t over.

He still faced the aforementioned federal charges that he’d later be convicted of in the 2023 federal trial.

Now, he is awaiting sentencing which will happen in April 2023, guaranteeing that he will spend a lifetime behind bars.

Around the time, the two hospitals were also facing civil lawsuits.

In 2021, they paid a $71.5 million settlement to 79 women.

They also paid an additional $165 Million to 147 more women in 2022.

However, the number of women who got paid for damages is still too low.

Around 6,000 to 8,000 women were exposed to Hadden between 1993 and 2012, and most of them could be sexual assault victims.

There’s also the matter of statute limitations.

The last of his victims could still file a case in 2017, but many could not since the crimes happened as early as 1993.

Thankfully, the New York Adult Adult Survivors Act (ASA) changes all this.

New York Adult Survivors Act

The efforts to put sex offenders accountable for their crimes heightened in the past few years, especially after the #MeToo movement.

One of the culminations of this was the passing of the ASA in May 2022.

This new law serves as a way for victims to file suit for sex crimes that have since expired under the statute of limitations.

The ASA allows victims to file cases against their perpetrators and the institutions that enabled such crimes to happen.

Beginning November 24, 2022 to November 23, 2023, those who’ve experienced various forms of sexual assault can file lawsuits and settle civil claims to get compensation for all economic and noneconomic damages.

This means that victims can go after institutions, organizations, groups, and even individuals who weren’t necessarily part of the criminal sex act, as long as these entities protected the perpetrator or allowed them to continue committing these deplorable actions.

Under the previous laws, only rape was exempt from the statute of limitations, and Hadden/Columbia could only be sued within five years after an instance of abuse happened.

The ASA provides a new window for victims to file cases against the medical offices and institutions that helped Hadden commit his crimes.

Contact The DiPietro Law Firm for a Confidential Consultation

If you or your loved one experienced sexual abuse, assault or misconduct during an appointment with Robert Hadden, you are eligible to file a claim.

Our law firm can help you get the justice you deserve.

Anthony T. DiPietro has led the litigation against Columbia University, resulting in $236 million in compensation for Hadden’s victims.

With the ASA, the fight for justice continues. Attorney Anthony T. DiPietro, along with the rest of our team, will continue to seek justice for the rest of Hadden’s victims.

Contact us for more information.

At DiPietro Law Firm, we prioritize your safety and comfort most of all.

We’ll handle your case with the utmost care and respect.

Our team understands that what you or a loved one experienced is traumatic and difficult to process, and we make sure to create a safe space where you can share your story.

You are not alone in this. Get in touch with us today to schedule a confidential consultation.