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Beginning in the 1980s, complaints of sexual abuse were lodged against a well-regarded pediatrician in New York, who operated out of a basement office at his Long Island home. Despite the mounting allegations, Stuart Copperman was never criminally charged during his career.
It wasn’t until he neared retirement in 2000, at the age of 65, that he lost his medical license due to these accusations. Fast forward 25 years, and over 100 former patients of Copperman have gained a sense of vindication following a court ruling that has ordered him to pay a staggering $1.6 billion in damages.
The Rev. Debbi Rhodes, one of the plaintiffs who was awarded $25 million, expressed a mixture of relief and frustration upon the completion of the litigation in late March in state Supreme Court. “I’m not sure if he’s facing justice. He kind of got away with it for all these years,” said the 63-year-old Episcopal priest based in Las Vegas. “But to have a court say, definitively, ‘I believe you.’ To hear that — that’s heavy medicine right there.”
Efforts to reach Manhattan lawyers representing Copperman went unanswered, as they did not respond to multiple inquiries following the court’s decision.
Copperman has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that his examinations were thorough, despite testimonies from former patients that suggest these examinations often occurred in private after parents had left the room.
A Lengthy Record of Complaints
Over the years, several women attempted to file complaints with law enforcement and medical regulatory boards, yet no formal charges resulted until the state medical board finally revoked his license after hearing testimony from six accusers. Limitations imposed by previous laws hindered these victims from pursuing lawsuits against Copperman until the enactment of New York’s Child Victims Act in 2019, which temporarily lifted these constraints, allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek justice.
While various institutions, including the Catholic Church, have settled significant sexual misconduct claims, the awards associated with Copperman’s case stand out as some of the largest ever awarded to a single individual in the realm of sexual abuse litigation in the U.S.
“For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed,” commented Kristen Gibbons Feden, the attorney who represents them. “Now, they cannot be ignored.”
Failure to Respond to Litigation
The court ruled in favor of the women because Copperman failed to respond to the allegations made against him. Some special referees, in determining damages, expressed their belief in the accusers’ testimonies. One referee notably remarked, “The psychological scars from the abuse suffered by Plaintiff are profound and permanent,” awarding $27 million to a woman referred to as “Jane Doe T.A.” in April 2024. Another ruling delivered in December 2024 expressed outrage at Copperman’s conduct in Rhodes’ case, awarding $25 million.
The final awards out of the 104 claims were finalized on March 28, with amounts varying widely from $500,000 to $32 million, according to Michael Della, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. Although the women sought remedies from local hospitals and health care networks, those claims were dismissed.
Overcoming Shame and Stigma
Rhodes, like many other accusers, has recounted that Copperman abused her during consultations at his home office, starting when she was just 7 years old in 1968. This trauma had lasting effects on her life, contributing to struggles with an eating disorder and substance abuse from a young age.
Now, Rhodes incorporates her story of overcoming trauma into her ministry work, which includes outreach to incarcerated individuals. She continues to deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. “Nobody can grow if they are living in shame. Nobody can really change,” Rhodes stated, emphasizing the importance of advocacy for others facing similar circumstances. “I’m not even sure you can love if you’re living in shame.”
In accordance with Associated Press policy, names of sexual assault victims are generally held confidential unless they choose to reveal their identities, as Rhodes has done.
Another unnamed plaintiff, who received $27 million, shared that recounting her traumatic experiences was difficult during the litigation process, yet ultimately facilitated a sense of healing. “It feels good to know that someone heard us,” she communicated via phone, noting that public recognition of Copperman’s actions helped to illustrate the magnitude of his wrongdoing.
The legal team representing the women has engaged a collections specialist to pursue compensation from Copperman, though plaintiffs like Rhodes acknowledge the uncertain prospects of receiving financial restitution, given Copperman’s advanced age of 89 and his residence in South Florida.
“I’m not sure what justice looks like even if I got a million dollars tomorrow,” Rhodes reflected. “For me, it’s about saying to other women who are facing this that someone will listen to you. I wasn’t believed for a very long time. Don’t stay silent. Speak your truth.”
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