Judge Approves $190M Settlement Between Hopkins And Levy Patients

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Baltimore judge approves a record breaking $190 million dollar settlement between Johns Hopkins Hospital and thousands of patients of a disgraced gynecologist who secretly recorded them.

Christie Ileto has reaction from some of those victims.

Being one of Dr. Nikita Levy's patients comes at a price. And for Monica Jones, that price means humiliation and invasion of privacy. But Friday, Jones will share a newly approved $190 million settlement with up to 9,500 of Levy's other patients.

"Thank God that I can have step one to some closure of this," said Jones.

A Baltimore judge called the agreement between Johns Hopkins Hospital and the gynecologist's patients "fair and reasonable."

A physician for 25 years, Levy killed himself last February when accusations surfaced he'd used a spy pen to secretly film and snap photos of those he treated.

"We've spoken loudly and spoken clearly that this type of conduct will not be tolerated," said Jonathan Schochor, victims' attorney.

Police found hundreds of photos and videos on Levy's computers, leaving most of the 12,000 plus patients he saw in his career horrified.

"I felt dirty and it felt nasty just to even know that he would something like that," one victim said.

While the case may be settled for the thousands of women who saw Dr. Levy at his East Baltimore office, the fight for many still isn't over.

"It being settled is a way to move on. However, you can never really move on," said victim Rochelle McBride.

Still traumatized by Levy's horrendous conduct, Rochelle McBride says trust is no longer a luxury she can afford.

Ileto: "Do you have another gynecologist now?"

McBride: "I do. She's a female"

Ileto: "So you have actually taken that step and gotten a new doctor."

McBride: "But it took me over a year to even be seen because I just couldn't do it."

While Jones isn't ready to make that leap of faith.

"I'm still scared. Like, who do I go to?" she said.

Emotional scars so deep that even the price tag of $190 million can't wash away the painful memories.

The case may be settled, but the fight isn't over for many of the women who have raised objections with the judge over how much money the small army of lawyers working on this case will get. That number estimated to be about 33 percent of the total settlement.

And some women have concerns over how the money will be distributed among the 8,500 victims. Some will get more than others, and the women are concerned about how those decisions will be made..

The judge will hear those complaints at a separate hearing on October 2.

Hopkins will deposit the $190 million into an account 44 days from now. That money will earn interest while a special committee irons out how it will be distributed.

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