Female patients may have been sexually exploited by Dr. Heaps over the course of at least ten years. Some may have thought his conduct was inappropriate, but did not realize to what extent. If you were a patient and have concerns about his conduct, please contact us for a free confidential evaluation with no obligation to move forward with a case. If you decide to move forward, California law permits victims of sexual assault or abuse to remain nameless, so your case could be filed as “Jane Doe.”
Dr. Heaps practiced at UCLA Health Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Hospital, and UCLA Medical Group. On June 11, 2019, he was arrested and has been charged with sexual battery by fraud and one count of sexual exploitation with two patients by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Additional patients have already come forward since this announcement.
Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Torrijos (AWST), in conjunction with Janet, Janet & Suggs (JJS), has been on the front lines of advising and representing thousands of women who were victimized by their physicians, including by Dr. George Tyndall at University of Southern California (USC).
According to information released by UCLA, the university terminated Dr. Heaps’s employment due to misconduct allegations relating to:
He was also reported to the Medical Board of California.
The first complaint came in 2008, according to the Associated Press, but UCLA authorities did not respond. Dr. Heaps was allowed to continue to examine female gynecological patients despite a history of similar complaints of alleged misconduct and abuse. UCLA began investigating Heaps in December 2017 following:
ASWT is known throughout the country for successfully fighting for justice on behalf of women who have been victims of sexual misconduct. The national law firm of Janet, Janet & Suggs has delivered justice for thousands of women abused during gynecologists’ pelvic and breast exams. Violations in some of these cases have included unnecessary and inappropriate probing, touching, comments, and photography.
Arias, Sanguinetti, Wang & Torrijos, LLP has proven trial experience – having tried cases involving major personal injuries, class actions, mass plaintiff wage and hour claims, wrongful death, products liability, medical malpractice, and employment issues. Over the last 30+ years, the firm’s attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for the firm’s clients. The firm is led by Mike Arias, who is also
2019 President of the Consumer Attorneys of California
Kate Harvey-Lee, a Senior Trial Lawyer at AWST, is participating in the representation of class members. A tireless advocate for the rights of victims and women, Kate brings extensive experience in complex litigation and class action matters. She has successfully resolved hundreds of matters during her career and helped to recover millions of dollars for her clients through verdicts and settlements.
Natalie D’Antonio’s practice primarily focuses on representing victims of sexual abuse. As a member of the Sexual Abuse Division, Natalie specializes in cases against institutions that enable sexual abuse including the Catholic Church, schools, hospitals and countless others. Prior to joining JJS, Natalie served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Anne Arundel County Maryland and worked in the Special Victim’s Unit; prosecuting on behalf of victims of domestic violence, intimate partner rape and sexual assault.
Disclaimer: Howard Janet – Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC – 4 Reservoir Circle, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21208 – Phone: (410)-653-3200. Mike Arias – Arias, Sanguinetti, Wang & Torrijos, LLP – 6701 Center Drive West, 14th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045 – Phone: (310)-844-9696. The use of the Internet for communications with either law firm will not establish an attorney-client relationship; however, your responses here will be kept strictly confidential. Please contact an attorney for a consultation on your particular legal matter. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services not available in all states based on this communication.