Johns Hopkins: 9,000 women
I ran communications for the plaintiffs’ steering committee.
Dr. Nikita Levy practiced gynecology at Johns Hopkins for more than 25 years. In early 2013, a co-worker reported him. Investigators found he had secretly photographed and filmed patients during exams, using cameras hidden in pens and key fobs. Police recovered more than a thousand images.
Hopkins fired him on Feb. 8, 2013. He died 10 days later.
Jonathan Schochor’s firm filed the first class action on Feb. 22, 2013. Mr. Schochor went on to lead the steering committee for eight law firms.
Johns Hopkins wanted this to be the story of one doctor. Its lawyer said Dr. Levy “went rogue.” Its statement said one person does not define Johns Hopkins.
That was not the story. Dr. Levy worked at a Hopkins clinic in East Baltimore for 25 years. Many of his patients were poor. Many were Black. The complaint said Hopkins failed to supervise him.
I saw the lack of supervision as a symptom. These were women the institution did not watch over closely. I asked one question: Would this have gone on for 25 years at a clinic for wealthy patients?
East Baltimore already knew the answer. In 1951, Hopkins researchers took Henrietta Lacks’ cells without her consent. The community had not forgotten.
There would be no criminal trial. The evidence could never be shown. Thousands of women had to be heard without one of them being exposed again.
I started before the complaint was filed. I briefed reporters on background, under embargo, so they had the full record in hand ahead of time. When the firm filed on Feb. 22, 2013, thorough stories ran that same day.
For the settlement, I found a detail-oriented reporter at the AP and gave her everything early. She had time to read it all and get it right. The moment the settlement was signed, I called her, and the story went out on the wire. Coverage followed from around the world.
I also held the press conference online, so reporters anywhere could ask their questions directly.
Johns Hopkins agreed to settle in July 2014. On a day dominated by U.S.–Russia tensions, the AP story produced more than a million press hits. The court later divided the fund among 9,000 women.