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We are actively representing victims of abuse by Dr. Reginald Archibald.

If you were a victim of sexual abuse, you have a limited time to take action.  Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Dr. Reginald Archibald - Rockefeller University Hospital

Child Victims Act Deadline Extended!  On August 3, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed an extension that gives abuse survivors another year (until mid-August 2021) to file a civil claim for the abuse they suffered.  Please remember this extension does *not* apply to defendants who file for bankruptcy — a bankruptcy judge may set a much shorter deadline for people to file claims against a bankrupt defendant.  If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse, please contact us to learn your options and ensure your legal rights are protected.

Read Our Clients’ Lawsuit Filed Against Rockefeller University:  45 of our clients filed one of the first lawsuits against Rockefeller University for the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of Dr. Reginald Archibald.  Our clients alleged Rockefeller University knew or should have known that Dr. Archibald posed a danger to them and it failed to take reasonable steps to protect them from being abused by him.  You can read the lawsuit by clicking this link:  Traub et al. v. The Rockefeller University.

You can also watch interviews with some of our clients and attorneys regarding this case by clicking these links:

New York Doctor May Have Abused More than 1,000 Victims Over 40 Years

A Momentus Time for Abuse Survivors (Time Magazine)

Hundreds of Lawsuits to be Filed for Old Child Sexual Abuse Cases in NY After Passage of Child Victims Act

Read the New Report on Dr. Archibald’s Abuse at Rockefeller University Hospital:  We represent more than 200 of Dr. Reginald Archibald’s former patients from Rockefeller University Hospital.  On May 23, 2019, the University released a new report regarding Dr. Archibald’s sexual abuse of his former patients.

Click Here to Read the Full Report

The NY Post interviewed one of our attorneys, Jennifer Freeman, about the new report.  You can read the interview by clicking this link.

Grand Jury Investigated Dr. Archibald in late 1960:  The new report by Rockefeller University Hospital discloses that the New York County District Attorney’s Office issued a grand jury subpoena for Dr. Archibald’s medical records for two patients in late 1960 “presumably prompted by a complaint.”  While Dr. Archibald was not charged with any offense, the report contains no evidence that Rockefeller University Hospital took any meaningful steps to determine whether he was using his position to sexually abuse his patients.

The Physician-in-Chief From 1960 to 1974 Received Multiple Complaints About Dr. Archibald:  The new report indicates that the Physician-in-Chief of the Hospital from 1960 to 1974 received “several complaints” during his tenure “about Dr. Archibald’s examinations of patients’ genitals.”  The report states the Physician-in-Chief admitted in 2004 that he “thought Archibald’s approach to examinations, in taking genital measurements, was questionable.”  The report fails to explain why the Physician-in-Chief took no steps to investigate Dr. Archibald further or to protect his child patients from more abuse.

“Much of Archibald’s Behavior Must Be Seen as Motivated by Improper Sexual Interests”:  Although the new report claims that some of what Dr. Archibald did was “reasonable in the context of his practice and research under standards at the time,” it admits that “much of Archibald’s behavior must be seen as motivated by improper sexual interests.”  This admission supports our view:  Dr. Archibald was a sexual predator who received sexual gratification from any interaction he had with a child.

Madison Square Boys Club:  A number of our clients met Dr. Reginald Archibald through the Madison Square Boys Club, and we have learned that he sexually abused children at the Boys Club.  You can read a New York Post story about our clients and an interview with one of our attorneys by clicking here.  We are actively investigating what the Boys Club knew about Dr. Archibald, and we have asked it to share what it knows about him.  If you met Dr. Archibald through the Boys Club, or have information regarding his role at the Boys Club, please contact us.

Update on Photographs:  We have formally requested Rockefeller University Hospital return the photographs Dr. Archibald took of our clients, or explain what it has done to try to find them.  Some of our clients and attorneys were interviewed about our efforts.  You can read some of the news coverage here and here.

We represent approximately 150 former patients of Dr. Archibald who allege they were sexually abused by him under the guise of “treatment,” and we have interviewed many more.  If you or someone you love was a patient of Dr. Archibald, please contact us for a confidential consultation.  There is no charge for speaking with us.

We highly recommend that you speak with us to learn your legal rights before you contact Rockefeller University Hospital or its defense law firm that has sent letters to his patients.  You do not have to talk with the University’s defense attorneys to obtain your medical records.  Speak with us to learn your rights.  

On October 5, 2018, the Rockefeller University Hospital released a statement regarding “inappropriate conduct” he engaged in during patient examinations. The hospital acknowledged the conduct and “deeply regret[s] pain and suffering caused to any of Dr. Archibald’s former patients.” Dr. Archibald studied “childhood growth and maturation.”

Below is a copy of the text from the University’s statement, followed by a copy of the letter that the University’s lawyers sent to some of Dr. Archibald’s former patients.  We are attorneys who represent abuse survivors.  We do not represent the University, Dr. Archibald, or any institution that allowed children to be abused.  You can learn more about us by clicking here, and you can contact us for a free, confidential consultation by clicking here.

The Statement of the Rockefeller University Hospital

We have come to learn that Dr. Reginald Archibald, who retired from the Rockefeller University Hospital in 1982, engaged in certain inappropriate conduct during patient examinations. The Hospital and University deeply regret pain and suffering caused to any of Dr. Archibald’s former patients.

Dr. Archibald began working at The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (later, The Rockefeller University) as a visiting investigator in 1940, and at the Hospital as an assistant resident physician from 1941‐1946. He later returned as a Hospital senior physician and University professor from 1948‐1980, with medical staff privileges at the Hospital until 1982. He became professor emeritus in 1980 and senior physician emeritus in 1987. He passed away in 2007. Dr. Archibald studied childhood growth and maturation, focusing on children of short stature.

In 2004, The Rockefeller University Hospital was informed of a report by a former patient related to the propriety of certain of Dr. Archibald’s conduct during physical examinations. The University notified the federal Office of Human Research Protections, the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct, and the Manhattan District Attorney. In addition, the University retained legal counsel Debevoise & Plimpton LLP to investigate. Following its review of then‐available information, including from interviews with former patients, faculty, administrators, and staff, and two prior reports made in the 1990s that were located, Debevoise found certain allegations credible and determined that it was likely that some of Dr. Archibald’s behavior towards this patient was inappropriate. A policy relating to the further protection of pediatric patients was added to the Hospital’s then‐existing safeguards and
processes designed to protect patients.

Earlier this year, another former patient of Dr. Archibald’s, who had not been identified in the 2004 investigation, came forward to make a similar report. In response, the University again reported the matter to appropriate state and federal authorities and re‐engaged Debevoise to investigate further. The 2018 investigation benefited from additional information that was not available in 2004, including information from several former patients who came forward. Based on its investigation, the law firm concluded that some of Dr. Archibald’s behaviors involving these patients were inappropriate.

In response to these findings, Dr. Archibald’s emeritus status at the Hospital and University have been rescinded and references to him have been removed from the Hospital and University webpages.

DR. ARCHIBALD’S ASSIGNMENTS

PLACEMENT CITY/STATE DATE(S)
Rockefeller University Hospital New York, NY 1940..1946
Rockefeller University Hospital New York, NY 1948..1980

The Letter from the Rockefeller University Hospital

Rockefeller University Hospital letter regarding Reginald Archibald