Sexual Abuse – DOCTOR Hit With $1.6B Judgment! 

A former Long Island pediatrician has been ordered to pay a staggering $1.6 billion to over 100 women who suffered decades of sexual abuse under his care, though many victims doubt they will ever see the money.

At a Glance

 

• Stuart Copperman, an 89-year-old former pediatrician, must pay $1.6 billion in damages to over 100 women who alleged sexual abuse
• Despite complaints dating back to the 1980s, Copperman was never criminally charged, though he lost his medical license in 2000
• Individual awards range from $500,000 to $32 million, making this one of the largest judgments against an individual in U.S. history
• The lawsuits were made possible by New York’s 2019 Child Victims Act, which opened a window for past abuse claims
• Copperman, who now lives in South Florida, has denied all allegations and did not respond to the litigation

 

Decades of Abuse Finally Addressed in Court

Stuart Copperman, once a trusted pediatrician serving families across Long Island, now faces one of the largest civil judgments ever ordered against an individual in the United States. The court ordered Copperman to pay $1.6 billion to more than 100 female patients who alleged he sexually abused them during routine medical examinations spanning decades. The ruling comes after years of complaints that began surfacing in the 1980s but never resulted in criminal charges against the doctor.

 

The landmark case was made possible by New York’s Child Victims Act, passed in 2019, which created a temporary window allowing victims to file lawsuits for past child sexual abuse regardless of when it occurred. This legislative change proved crucial for Copperman’s victims, many of whom had previously been unable to seek justice due to statute of limitations restrictions. The court ruled decisively in favor of the women after Copperman failed to respond to the litigation, though he has consistently denied all accusations.

 

Victims Finally Heard After Decades of Silence

Despite numerous complaints against Copperman dating back decades, the physician managed to continue practicing until 2000, when the New York state Board for Professional Medical Conduct finally revoked his license. The victims’ awards range from $500,000 to $32 million, reflecting the severity and duration of abuse each woman endured. Many of the women reported suffering long-term psychological impacts including anxiety, depression, and other significant mental health issues resulting from their childhood trauma.

 

“I’m not sure if he’s facing justice. He kind of got away with it for all these years. But to have a court say, definitively, ‘I believe you.’ To hear that — that’s heavy medicine right there.” said Rev. Debbi Rhodes.

 

Rev. Debbi Rhodes, one of the plaintiffs who was awarded $25 million, has chosen to speak openly about her experiences, breaking the silence that often surrounds childhood sexual abuse. Her willingness to share her story publicly represents a significant step toward healing for many victims. The women also attempted to sue local hospitals and health networks that had affiliations with Copperman, but those claims were dismissed, leaving the former doctor as the sole defendant in the case.

Look how new York allowed that sex abuse to happen for decades by Stuart Copperman

Copperman? I'm about to research that. https://t.co/DI9Rswx9rj

— Hafsa X (@HafsaTheJefa) April 10, 2025

Uncertain Financial Justice Despite Historic Ruling

While the judgment represents a moral victory for the victims, the practical reality of collecting such an enormous sum remains doubtful. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have retained a collections specialist to pursue compensation from Copperman, who now resides in South Florida at age 89. However, many of the women have expressed skepticism about receiving significant monetary compensation, viewing the court’s acknowledgment of their suffering as the more meaningful form of justice.

 

“For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed. Now, they cannot be ignored.” said Kristen Gibbons Feden.

 

Throughout the legal proceedings, Copperman maintained his innocence, claiming his examinations were thorough but appropriate. His failure to respond to the litigation, however, resulted in the default judgment against him. Legal experts note that while the amount awarded is extraordinary, it reflects the severity of the allegations, the number of victims involved, and the decades-long impact of the abuse on their lives. The case stands as a powerful reminder of how institutional failures can allow abuse to continue unchecked for generations.