Columbia University will pay a staggering $756 million to settle claims from 576 women sexually abused by gynecologist Robert Hadden, bringing total payouts to over $1 billion after years of covering up his predatory behavior.
Key Takeaways
- Columbia University has agreed to a $756 million settlement with 576 victims of gynecologist Robert Hadden, averaging $1.3 million per victim.
- The settlement, approved in the Manhattan Supreme Court, brings Columbia’s total payments for Hadden-related cases to over $1 billion.
- Victims and attorneys emphasize that the case represents institutional accountability rather than just monetary compensation.
- Hadden was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for sexually abusing patients over decades at Columbia-affiliated facilities.
- Columbia has established a $100 million victims fund and launched an external investigation into the systematic failures that enabled the abuse.
Elite Institution Finally Held Accountable
Columbia University and its affiliated New York-Presbyterian Hospital have reached a record $756 million settlement with 576 women who were sexually abused by former gynecologist Robert Hadden. The settlement, approved in the Manhattan Supreme Court, provides approximately $1.3 million to each victim. This massive payout comes after decades of institutional failure to stop Hadden’s predatory behavior, despite numerous complaints and warning signs that went unheeded by university officials.
“Columbia University has agreed to a record-breaking $750 million settlement with 576 victims of disgraced gynecologist Robert Hadden, who was convicted of sexually abusing patients,” said Laurie Maldonado.
The settlement represents the latest chapter in a disturbing case that has exposed how elite institutions protect their reputations at the expense of vulnerable individuals. Hadden, who worked at Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital facilities for over two decades, was finally sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for his crimes. The university’s handling of complaints against him highlights a troubling pattern of institutional neglect that prioritizes prestigious names over patient safety.
Victims Demand More Than Money
For the hundreds of women abused by Hadden, the settlement represents acknowledgment of their suffering and the university’s culpability in enabling it. Many victims have emphasized that the case was never primarily about financial compensation but about forcing a powerful institution to face its responsibility in allowing the abuse to continue for years. By failing to act on early complaints, Columbia effectively sacrificed countless women’s safety and well-being.
“Victim Laurie Maldonado stated that the settlement is about accountability, emphasizing that Columbia enabled the abuse and has now been forced to confront the truth,” said Laurie Maldonado.
Anthony T. DiPietro, the attorney who has represented Hadden’s victims since 2012, has been instrumental in bringing Columbia’s negligence to light. The settlement adds to previous agreements, bringing the total compensation from Columbia related to Hadden’s abuse to over $1 billion. This astronomical figure reflects both the scale of Hadden’s crimes and the university’s persistent failure to protect patients from a known predator in their midst.
Institutional Failure Revealed
The case exposes how Columbia University repeatedly chose institutional protection over patient safety. For years, complaints about Hadden’s inappropriate behavior were systematically downplayed or ignored. The university has now been forced to establish a $100 million victims fund and launch an external investigation into how Hadden was able to continue practicing despite numerous red flags and complaints from patients.
“Attorney Anthony T. DiPietro, who has represented Hadden’s victims since 2012, noted that Columbia prioritized its reputation over patient safety for too long,” said Anthony T. DiPietro.
Columbia’s public statements expressing regret for the victims’ suffering ring hollow for many who lived through years of abuse while the university turned a blind eye. The settlement reflects a growing trend of holding powerful institutions accountable not just for the direct actions of their employees but for the systematic failures that allow abuse to continue unchecked. The billion-dollar price tag sends a message to other institutions that covering up misconduct ultimately costs far more than addressing it properly from the start.
