New York paediatrician ordered to pay $1.6 bn to over 100 women in sex abuse case

A New York paediatrician has been ordered to pay $1.6 billion (₹13,866 crore) to more than 100 women who accused him of sexual abuse conducted at his home clinic, as per reports.

Stuart Copperman, 89, reportedly operated his clinic from the basement of his home in Merrick, Long Island. Despite multiple complaints filed over the years, he was never criminally charged.

Copperman continued practicing medicine until 2000, when the state medical board revoked his licence following testimonies from six women alleging abuse.

Now, in a recent ruling by a Long Island court in late March, Copperman has been reportedly ordered to pay individual awards ranging from $500,000 (₹4.3 crore) to $32 million (₹277 crore) to each victim.

The court-appointed referees who assessed the damages strongly supported the victims, with one writing, “There can only be outrage at Copperman’s reprehensible conduct.”

Copperman’s legal team had also filed lawsuits against local hospitals and healthcare networks, alleging negligence, but those claims were dismissed by the court.

Copperman has consistently denied any wrongdoing, once defending his actions by claiming he was being thorough in his examinations which, according to victims, reportedly were often conducted after he asked their parents to leave the room.