UCLA settles gynecologist sex abuse suit for $243.6 million

By ROBERT JABLON
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawsuit alleging that a former UCLA gynecologist sexually abused hundreds of women has been settled for $243.6 million. The amount of the settlement was announced Tuesday by UCLA and some of the lawyers representing 203 women. It’s one of hundreds of lawsuits filed by patients who say that Dr. James Heaps groped or otherwise abused them during his 35-year career and that UCLA ignored or concealed the misconduct. UCLA settled another lawsuit last year for $73 million. Heaps has pleaded not guilty to 21 sex-abuse criminal charges. Other schools have settled similar lawsuits. The University of Michigan announced a $490 million settlement last month. USC’s settlement bill tops $1 billion.