NOTICE
Columbia University circulated a letter to former Hadden patients to notify them of the existence of the settlement fund. Please be advised that three law firms in New York have filed putative class action lawsuits on behalf of former patients, such as yourself, which allege violations of law, including under the Adult Survivors Act and/or New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Protection Law. If you are a former patient of Hadden and experienced some form of abuse by Hadden, we encourage you to consult with an attorney of your choosing to ensure that you understand your rights before proceeding.
Developing a full and accurate understanding of the circumstances and behavior that allowed Hadden’s exploitation of patients to persist for so many years is essential for survivors and for the University. Columbia has named an outside investigator, Joan Loughnane, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP who previously served in a variety of leadership positions in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, to lead an external investigation.
We have asked Ms. Loughnane to understand what allowed Hadden’s misconduct to continue for so long—and to make recommendations to ensure we have the policies and procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again. The investigation will be conducted in a manner that allows survivors and others with knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Hadden’s misconduct to share their stories confidentially. A report on the findings of her investigation will be made publicly available.
Contact Information Regarding the Investigation
Ms. Loughnane has set up a voicemail box at 212-839-6000 and an email at Haddeninfo@sidley.com where you can provide your contact information, and she or members of her team will reach out to you promptly. She will protect the identity of patients who experienced abuse to the maximum extent permitted by law.
About Joan Loughnane
Joan Loughnane is a partner at Sidley Austin, LLP. Prior to joining Sidley, she served in leadership positions in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.