Court orders pediatrician to pay $1.6 billion for sexual abuse of over 100 women

In recent events, a New York court has delivered a monumental verdict, awarding $1.6 billion to over 100 women who alleged sexual abuse by Stuart Copperman, a former pediatrician who operated in Long Island. The abuse complaints against Copperman span several decades, starting around the 1980s, yet he faced no criminal charges during that time. It wasn't until he was nearing retirement, at the age of 65 in 2000, that he was stripped of his medical license after receiving multiple complaints regarding his conduct during medical examinations. The court's decision marks a significant victory for the women, who have fought long and hard for recognition and justice. Many of them described experiences of trauma and shame, which persisted long after the incidents. The last of the awards were finalized on March 28, 2024, and the amounts varied widely from $500,000 to $32 million, highlighting the severity of the individual cases presented. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Kristen Gibbons Feden, expressed that the ruling served as validation for the victims. In her words, “For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed. Now, they cannot be ignored.” Despite the court's ruling, questions remain about whether justice has truly been served. Copperman has continually denied the allegations and did not respond to the litigation filed against him. His lack of response contributed to the court's ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, as the special referees assessed damages and affixed numbers to the trauma experienced by the women. One such assessment noted the