In June 2024, the District Attorney’s Office for Plymouth County, Massachusetts, indicted Dr. Richard Kauff with a total of 17 charges, including several counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14 and child rape with force. These charges came at the end of Dr. Kauff’s four-decade career as a pediatrician in the greater Boston area. Since the initial indictment, dozens more women have come forward with reports of sexual abuse they experienced from Dr. Kauff as children.
If you experienced inappropriate sexual contact or any other form of sexual abuse from this now-disgraced physician, you may be able to seek civil restitution from him and the medical facilities that enabled his misconduct. Phillips Law Group has years of experience helping survivors of sexual assault successfully file suit against the people responsible for harming them, and a qualified attorney from the team can be a reliable ally throughout every stage of the Dr. Richard Kauff sexual abuse lawsuits.
What Are the Allegations Against Dr. Kauff?
In 2023, a member of a South Shore-area Facebook group posted about experiences she had as a child where her doctor inserted his fingers into her vagina during yearly checkups and asked the group whether that experience was normal. After other group members told her that this was not a normal experience, one group member reached out privately and shared that she had had a similar experience as a child, which led both women to file police reports against the pediatrician who had abused them: Dr. Richard Kauff.
Since then, more than two dozen women have reported that Dr. Kauff assaulted them in the same way between 1991 and 2004, sometimes using his broad frame to block the view of parents who were in the room with their children while the assaults took place. Authorities believe there may be more sexual abuse victims of Dr. Kauff who have the right to legal action. He practiced at the South Shore Medical Center and in other facilities for more than 40 years before retiring and facing criminal charges.
Holding Both Practitioners and Practices Liable for Sexual Abuse
Criminal proceedings against Dr. Richard Kauff are still ongoing as of 2025, but sexual abuse lawsuits against him have already begun and can proceed regardless of what stage the trial has reached or its conclusion. The standard of proof for civil lawsuits is less strict than that of criminal cases, so it may be possible to hold Dr. Kauff civilly liable for damages stemming from his abuse even if his criminal case does not end with a conviction.
Additionally, it is unclear how much administrators at South Shore Medical Center and other facilities knew of the abuse Dr. Kauff engaged in while practicing there. Therefore, those administrators may also hold civil liability for their failure to protect patients in their care. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can discuss the most suitable course of action for a prospective claim during a private initial consultation.
Contact Phillips Law Group for Help Pursuing a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Dr. Richard Kauff
The allegations made against Dr. Richard Kauff indicate that he engaged in systemic abuse of vulnerable patients across decades of practice as a pediatrician, and further reports of his misconduct may still arise. You may have a right to seek civil restitution for sexual mistreatment you experienced as a patient of Dr. Kauff, even if many years have passed.
Working with compassionate legal counsel can be key to pursuing Dr. Richard Kauff sexual abuse lawsuits as effectively as possible and maximizing your chances of a favorable case resolution. Call Phillips Law Group today to discuss your options in a free, no-obligation consultation.
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