A Lawsuit Against an Ex-UCLA Gynecologist Is Settled for $73 Million

A federal judge Monday gave final approval to the $73 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by more than 5,500 women who allege they were sexually abused and assaulted as patients of disgraced ex-UCLA campus gynecologist/oncologist James Heaps.

The settlement approved by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner also requires UCLA to ensure stronger oversight procedures for identification, prevention and reporting of sexual misconduct.

Originally filed in 2019 in Los Angeles federal court, the lawsuit accused Heaps of assault, abuse and harassment and accused UCLA of failing to protect his patients after becoming aware of the misconduct.