An Orange County doctor is facing allegations of sexually groping 2 patients during a medical exam. Dr. John Carl Hoefs was arrested for 5 incidents of sexual assault against one woman starting in 2020. A second woman said she was groped by Hoefs during an examination in 2016. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Hoefs was working at a medical facility in Irvine, which is affiliated with the healthcare delivery provider, Hoag.
One of the victims said Hoefs would lift her gown during exams, and when she pulled it back it down, he removed it again so that he could grope her breasts. Hoefs was initially arrested in May 2024, but was later released on $500,000 bail. If he is found guilty of all the charges that are filed against him, he is looking at a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Hoefs is currently 79 years old, and he has clearly had a long career as a doctor. He has probably worked for other clinics and hospitals over the years, so there’s a good chance that many women suffered sexual assault at the hands of John Carl Hoefs. Anyone with information should contact the Irvine Police Department at (940) 724-7170 or rsteen@cityofirvine.org.
Law enforcement is doing their part to put this predator behind bars and ensure that he is no longer allowed to force himself of another victim. However, criminal prosecution is not the only remedy that is available to someone who was sexually assaulted by Dr. Hoefs. As a sexual abuse victim, you have the right to file a lawsuit for monetary compensation.
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Your Right to Sue a Doctor for Sexual Assault
Even one incident of sexual assault can cause lifelong injuries in the form of emotional trauma and bodily harm. As a victim of sexual misconduct by a doctor, you can demand justice in the form of monetary damages, like pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical costs, and lost wages. But suing the perpetrator of the abuse is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these lawsuits.
If you think about it, Hoefs did not run a private practice. Instead, he was employed by an Irvine medical office operated by Hoag, a regional healthcare provider that specializes in the delivery of services for women’s health, cancer, orthopedics, neuroscience, and heart / vascular health. The company currently has 2 acute-care hospitals, 4 urgent care centers, and 7 healthcare facilities in various cities throughout Orange County.
One victim who has filed charges against Hoefs said that her incidents with the doctor go all the back to 2016. We don’t know as of yet how long Hoefs had worked at the clinic in Irvine, but there’s a good chance that he had victimized other females who were under his care. With that in mind, how is it that hospital administrators and Hoag, the delivery network, were unaware of these issues?
In our investigations on behalf of sexually abused patients, we normally find that our client is one of many victims that complained about inappropriate touching, comments, etc., about a particular doctor. In just about every case, there was a history of allegations that go back 10 or more years in one or more hospitals, yet, law enforcement was never contacted. Instead, the doctor was allowed to quietly resign and find work at another medical center. Or, the individual is permitted to keep their job while the victim is pressured to drop the charges or bribed with a sum of money in exchange for their silence.
Such blatant examples of negligence and misconduct cannot be ignored, and that’s why the law permits the filing of a lawsuit for those who were sexually abused by a doctor, nurse, or any other clinician at a medical office. Our law firm is ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve by law if you were sexually assaulted by Dr. John Carl Hoefs. Contact us today and talk to a sexual abuse lawyer during a free consultation.
Average Value of a Hospital Sexual Assault Lawsuit
How much you can receive from a sex abuse claim is essential information for anyone who is thinking about filing a lawsuit. Many of the victims that reach out to us ask for the average settlement amount for a doctor sexual assault claim. However, there is no specific answer we can provide, as each case involves different circumstances that will affect the amount of compensation.
We can, however, make some generalizations based on our record of recovery for sexual abuse victims. Payouts are normally 6 to 7 figures, with the most extreme cases of psychological / physical harm resulting in verdicts of $10,000,000 and above. Those who are sexually assaulted generally have higher case values than victims of sexual harassment. On average, we would say that sexual assault lawsuits are settled for anywhere between $1,500,000 and $5,000,000, but these are just estimates. What your own lawsuit is worth is determined by many factors, which we can go over with you during a free case review.
How Long Do Sexual Abuse Cases Take to Settle?
Sexual assault claims against medical centers can take between 12 and 24 months to settle, though we occasionally have cases that go to trial, meaning it can more than 3 years before compensation is awarded to the victim. It should be noted than only about 5% of all lawsuits for sexual abuse are taken to court, so we normally enter the legal process with the expectation that a settlement will be reached. The amount of time required for both sides to agree on the amount can be as short as 6 months, especially if the victim is a major presence in the community, like Hoag. However, there is no denying that the majority of these cases required 1 or more years of negotiations before a fair settlement is offered by the defendant.
Deadline to File a Lawsuit for Sexual Assault
If you are 18 years or older at the time of the abuse, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit is 10 years, starting from the incident date or the occurrence of the most recent assault if there were multiple incidents. While 10 years may seem like a long time, the majority of sexual assault victims are unable to speak about what happened for a very long time. It can take years before they tell a friend or family member, and even longer before they go to the police or a therapist.
Please know that we are not here to pressure you into a lawsuit. Only you can decide on the right course of action when it comes to something as personal and life-changing as sexual assault. We are here to answer your questions and educate you on the available legal options. If suing Hoag or any other entity for sexual abuse by Dr. John Carl Hoefs is right for you, we are more than prepared to fight for your interests and secure the highest possible settlement.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
While it seems unthinkable, our lawyers have come across far too many cases over the years of doctors who use their position of authority to sexually abuse their patients. For the victim, it can take years before they are ready to tell someone about the abuse and get help, either from the authorities or a lawyer with experience in sexual assault claims against doctors. We can’t erase the pain and trauma that you endured, but we can help you obtain justice in the form of monetary damages. Our lawyers have spent decades fighting for the rights of sex abuse victims, and you can count on us to secure the payment you are entitled to.
Here at Normandie, we have always offered free legal services under a contingency fee agreement known as the Zero Fee Guarantee. Rather than asking you to pay us upfront, we add these expenses on to the settlement we demand from the defendant. So, our payment is contingent on winning your case, as we only get paid if you receive compensation from a successful lawsuit.
As you can see, there is nothing to lose by contacting us, so please take a moment to contact our office and speak to a sexual assault lawsuit attorney.
