A Call for Witnesses: Survivors of Sexual Predator Dr. Darius Paduch

Dr. Darius Paduch sexually abused his patients – both adults and children – while working as a urologist at New York hospitals. His assaults occurred under the guise of “medical treatment” for patients and “educational instruction” for high school-age interns — in other words, children.

PCVA has filed several lawsuits against Dr. Paduch’s former employer, New York–Presbyterian Hospital, and his current employer, Northwell Health, on behalf of patients who were abused by Dr. Paduch between the ages of 14 and 30.

We represent seven survivors of Paduch’s abuse and have spoken to even more. We are urging anyone who experienced sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Paduch to come forward.

How did Dr. Paduch abuse his victims?

Educated in Poland and the United States, Dr. Paduch began his medical career in the early 2000s and worked at New York-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center for many years as a urologist specializing in male infertility and sexual dysfunction. He moved to Northwell Health on Long Island in 2019.

Dr. Paduch exploited patients in his examination room under the pretense of providing medical treatment. One of his victims reported that, when he was 16, the doctor exposed him to pornography and performed sexual acts on him. Dr. Paduch also demanded that the patient send videos of himself masturbating. Others have reported that Dr. Paduch pressed himself against them while masturbating them, and made other sexual advances.

We have also learned that Dr. Paduch regularly recruited high school patients to serve as “interns,” claiming that their doing so would bolster their resume and increase their likelihood of attending college.  One of our clients was sexually abused as an intern, and we believe Dr. Paduch sexually abused others in this same way.

Like many other sexual predators, Dr. Paduch veiled his abuse and assault as something legitimate or harmless.

I feel like I was violated by Dr. Paduch, but does it merit filing a lawsuit?

Dr. Paduch exploited his position as a physician and masked his abuse as medical treatment.

Even if there is no outward injury to the body, sexual abuse causes serious injury to the nervous system — especially to children, who are still developing neurologically.

The effects of sexual violence can include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Flashbacks
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dissociation
• Panic attacks
• Substance abuse
• Disordered sleep
• Sexual dysfunction

These are serious issues that can harm a person’s ability to work, study, maintain relationships and enjoy their lives the way they used to. Treatment for sexual abuse-related damage can take a long time and become very expensive.

Who is responsible for Dr. Paduch’s sexual abuse?

In New York, a doctor’s employer has a responsibility to ensure that patients and interns are safe when seeking treatment and using its facilities. The employer should be held responsible if its employee commits crimes that harm patients and the employer either knew or should have known that the employee posed a danger. PCVA is suing New York–Presbyterian Hospital and Northwell Health on behalf of survivors of Dr. Paduch’s sexual abuse because PCVA has reason to believe that both New York Presbyterian and Northwell Health knew that Dr. Paduch posed a danger to patients because others reported concerning conduct in 2012 and again in 2020, and these institutions took no action to protect their patients.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in New York if I was sexually assaulted or abused?

The New York Adult Survivors Act gives certain deadlines for survivors of sexual abuse to file lawsuits regarding abuse they suffered as an adult. The deadlines fall into two categories.

Survivors have until they reach the age of 55 to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator and an institution if:

• The abuse occurred after 2018, or
• They were under the age of 21 as of February 14, 2018

Otherwise, survivors must file lawsuits by November 23, 2023, if:

• The abuse occurred before 2018, or
• They were over the age of 21 as of February 14, 2018.

Can I come forward or sue anonymously if I’m worried about my privacy?

Most likely. The law usually allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse using a pseudonym, like “John Doe” or “Jane Doe,” or our client’s initials. Moreover, it may be possible to resolve your case privately without filing a lawsuit or going to court.

How can survivors receive damages for sexual abuse?

Our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complicated and concerning sexual abuse cases in the country and are often consulted by other law firms for guidance and expertise when representing sexual abuse survivors. We take a trauma-informed approach to our representation that acknowledges the sensitive nature of these cases.

Every case is different and results – which depend on the facts of the case – cannot be guaranteed. However, we will fight to hold accountable the institutions and individuals who failed to protect survivors. Through our efforts, we have helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of abuse survivors. While no amount of monetary compensation can erase the trauma of abuse, the financial assistance can help pay for necessary expenses to allow the healing process to begin.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse or assault at the hands of Dr. Darius Paduch, our attorneys are here to listen and help. Learn more about how we help sexual abuse survivors or schedule a no obligation consultation with one of our lawyers by completing our intake form or by calling us at  (206) 536-2850. 

How much do you charge?

Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.

Our Case Results

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$4.2M Settlement Reached in Coach Sexual Abuse Case Against University Place School District
$1.4M Settlement Reached in Washington Department of Social and Health Services Foster Services Sex Abuse Lawsuit