In a landmark ruling, an 89-year-old former pediatrician from New York has been ordered to pay more than $1.6 billion to over 100 women who accused him of sexual abuse during their childhood. The judgment, delivered by a Long Island court in late March, stands as one of the largest cumulative awards against a single individual in U.S. history.
Decades of allegations surface
Stuart Copperman, who operated his pediatric practice from the basement of his Merrick, Long Island home, faced numerous complaints of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1960s. Despite these allegations, he continued practicing until 2000, when the state medical board revoked his license following testimonies from multiple women. Notably, Copperman was never criminally charged.
The recent lawsuits were made possible by New York’s Child Victims Act of 2019, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. Copperman did not respond to the litigation, leading the court to rule in favor of the plaintiffs by default.
Survivors speak out
The awards range from $500,000 to $32 million per person. One of the victims, Rev. Debbi Rhodes, now 63 and an Episcopal priest, was awarded $25 million. She described the judgment as both a relief and a painful reminder.
“I’m not sure if he’s facing justice. He kind of got away with it for all these years,” Rhodes said. “But to have a court say, definitively, ‘I believe you.’ To hear that — that’s heavy medicine right there.”
Another woman, identified only as Jane Doe A.W., was awarded $27 million. She described the deposition process as “painful but, in a way, healing.”
“It feels good to know that someone heard us. People now understand the magnitude of what he did.”
Challenges in collecting damages
Despite the substantial awards, many plaintiffs acknowledge they may never see significant compensation. Copperman’s assets remain unclear, and lawyers have hired a collections specialist to begin efforts. Still, survivors like Rhodes find solace in the court’s acknowledgment of their experiences.
“I wasn’t believed for a very long time. Don’t stay silent. Speak your truth.”
Legal representatives’ statement
Attorneys Kristen Gibbons Feden and Mike Della, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the significance of the ruling.
“For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed,” Feden said. “Now, they cannot be ignored.”
This monumental judgment underscores the profound impact of the Child Victims Act and the enduring pursuit of justice by survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
