A former gynecologist at the University of Southern California, George Tyndall, has been ordered to stand trial on charges related to sexual misconduct with 16 patients. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler deemed that there was enough evidence to proceed with the case after a hearing that took place over several weeks in late November 2021. Tyndall is facing charges of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery by fraud. The alleged offenses occurred between 2009 and 2016 when Tyndall was employed at USC’s student health center.
The charges involving five other women were dismissed as four of them chose not to proceed and one could not be contacted. Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller argued that Tyndall took advantage of his position of trust at a prestigious university to exploit his patients, who often were young and naive. Mueller contended that the victims were unable to resist because they did not realize the nature of Tyndall’s actions.
Tyndall’s defense attorney, Leonard Levine, suggested that the perception of Tyndall’s examinations changed due to media coverage, particularly a Los Angeles Times article, and that the investigations into the alleged crimes were flawed. Levine expressed his client’s confidence in his acquittal and looked forward to a trial by a jury of Tyndall’s peers.
During the hearing, one of the alleged victims, referred to as Jane Doe 14, testified that she initially believed Tyndall’s actions were appropriate, despite feeling embarrassed and horrified. Another alleged victim, Jane Doe 16, described her discomfort during an examination with Tyndall and her decision to speak out after reading about his alleged misconduct. Both women shared their experiences and their hopes for justice.
The settlement reached in March 2021 between Tyndall and hundreds of women who claimed to be victims of his abuse is considered the largest of its kind against a university, amounting to $852 million. USC has taken steps to address the scandal, including implementing new protocols and hiring female, board-certified physicians.
Tyndall surrendered his medical license in September 2019 and is currently free on bond. His arraignment is scheduled for August 25, 2023.
In a separate case, former UCLA gynecologist James Heaps has been sentenced to 11 years in state prison for his conviction on charges related to sexual misconduct with two patients. Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to retry the remaining counts against Heaps on which the jury deadlocked in October 2022. Heaps is currently in jail without bail.
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