Jurors introduced they’ve reached a verdict Thursday within the trial of a former campus gynecologist affiliated with UCLA who was indicted on practically two dozen sexual misconduct counts involving seven sufferers.
The decision was anticipated to be learn Thursday afternoon. Heaps faces 21 felony counts of sexual abuse within the legal case.
James Heaps served as a gynecologist/oncologist, affiliated with UCLA, for practically 35 years. At numerous occasions throughout these three many years, he noticed sufferers on the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Middle and at his workplace at 100 Medical Plaza.
Greater than 500 lawsuits have been filed towards Heaps and UCLA, accusing the varsity of failing to guard sufferers after turning into conscious of the misconduct.
UCLA ended Heaps’ employment and notified regulation enforcement of the allegations towards him on June 14, 2018. He was arrested an charged in June 2019, and extra ladies got here ahead to report allegations of sexual misconduct.
Greater than 500 lawsuits have been filed towards Heaps and UCLA, accusing the varsity of failing to guard sufferers after turning into conscious of the misconduct.
The lawsuits alleged that UCLA actively and intentionally hid Heaps’ sexual abuse of sufferers. UCLA continued to permit Heaps to have unfettered sexual entry to feminine sufferers — lots of whom have been most cancers sufferers — on the college, plaintiffs’ attorneys alleged within the fits.
UCLA issued a press release in Could after a lawsuit settlement was reached, saying, “This settlement, mixed with earlier settlements involving different plaintiffs, resolves the overwhelming majority of the claims alleging sexual misconduct by James Heaps, a former UCLA Well being doctor. The conduct alleged to have been dedicated by Heaps is reprehensible and opposite to our values. We’re grateful to all those that got here ahead, and hope this settlement is one step towards offering some degree of therapeutic for the plaintiffs concerned.
“We’re devoted to offering the best high quality care that respects the dignity of each affected person. We’re taking all crucial steps to make sure our sufferers’ well-being with a view to preserve the general public’s confidence and belief.”
The college outlined a collection of measures undertaken to bolster scholar and affected person security.
