RICHMOND, Va. — A jury has awarded $300 million to three women who claimed they were sexually abused while receiving treatment at a Virginia children’s hospital.
During a session at the Richmond Circuit Court, the jury granted each woman $60 million in compensatory damages and an additional $40 million in punitive damages, as reported by WTVR-TV.
The lawsuit involved a total of 46 former patients of the Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent, known for its care of vulnerable children, and its longtime medical director, Dr. Daniel Davidow. In this initial trial, the three women alleged that Dr. Davidow improperly touched them during femoral pulse examinations.
Kevin Biniazan, the attorney representing the women, described the emotional moment when the jury listened to their testimonies. “To have a group of strangers look at them, listen to them, and validate their experiences brought them to tears,” he said. “It affected us all deeply.”
In contrast, Dr. Davidow’s lawyer, Bob Donnelly, stated during opening remarks that Dr. Davidow “unequivocally denies” the allegations of sexual assault, asserting that the femoral pulse exam has been a standard practice since the 1960s and 1970s.
Earlier this year, Dr. Davidow was acquitted of felony sexual abuse charges involving two other former patients following a criminal trial.
The next civil trial is set to take place in March.
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