After Fifteen Years’ Worth of Sexual Assault Allegations, an LA Doctor May Finally Face Justice
The first allegation came in 2001, but it took another 15 years before the Los Angeles Police Department could charge Dr. Michael Howard Popkin with a crime. According to NBC News, the 67-year-old GP is facing “one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Patient and three counts of Sexual Battery, said Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Sex Crimes Unit detectives in a statement.” Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Mr. Popkin is still working; his license has not been suspended or revoked, and his bail was set at the minimum – $65,000.
NBC News reports that “Due to Popkin’s long career and the multiple allegations against him, police believe there could be other victims and are hoping they will come forward.”
To recap: a 67-year-old doctor is facing four different charges, all sexual in nature. He has been implicated in at least five other incidents involving sexual assault, and police believe there could be more – after all, he’s been in practice for 40 years. Yet he retains his medical license and continues to practice, which could pose a potential threat to his patients.
But is this really a surprise? After all, it took the Medical Board of California almost three years to revoke the license of Conrad Murry, the doctor convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson back in 2009. And of the five previous incidents involving Mr. Popkin, four were reported not to the police, but to the Board, which offers this flow chart to explain how to proceed with a claim – yet no criminal charges were ever sought out, no complaints were raised by the Board itself, and certainly no license suspension was ever forthcoming.
Fighting for victims means fighting the status quo
Whether you’re pursuing criminal charges or a claim in civil court, victims of sexual abuse in Los Angeles are often faced with some hard truths: a conviction in one court does not necessarily guarantee a conviction in the other, and most people trust their doctors, which means you’re fighting public perception from the start. That is why you need an advocate who has the resources, the skills and the experience necessary to fight the status quo on your behalf. That’s what we do at Taylor & Ring: we give a voice to the voiceless through the civil court system, and seek justice for our clients.
Fifteen years is a very long time to wait for justice. We genuinely hope his victims finally get to see it this time.
Taylor & Ring provides comprehensive representation to victims of personal injury and sexual abuse throughout Southern California. Our experienced Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers know how to build a case that will protect our clients and their futures. To learn more about our services, or to schedule a free consultation, please call 310.209.4100, or fill out this contact form.
Serving clients throughout the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California area, we represent victims in a variety of civil litigation cases. If you or a loved one has been injured, turn to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury or sexual assault lawyer.
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