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Molestation Cases Headed for Mediation

Childhood patients of the late Dr. George Reardon, who have sued his estate and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, are headed for mediation as of Oct. 1.

By then, Paul T. Edwards, a partner in the New Haven firm of Stratton Faxon, estimates that there could be 100 plaintiffs. The firm has sued the hospital and Reardon's estate on behalf of 43 clients who, as young boys and girls, turned to Reardon for his expertise in matters of childhood growth and development. Instead, they claim, they were photographed nude, molested or raped in Reardon's hospital office.

Edwards and attorney Susan K. Smith, of Avon, represent most of the plaintiffs. Edwards's firm has filed on behalf of 43 John and Jane Doe plaintiffs, and Smith represents 36 clients.

"We're still taking in new clients," said Edwards. "A lot of these victims have been subjected to unbelievable things. It's really disturbing. The depths of Dr. Reardon's depravity continue to amaze us."

Smith represented complainants before the state medical board in hearings between 1991 and 1993, attempting to get Reardon's license revoked. At least six of the current plaintiffs had complained, unsuccessfully, to state authorities about Reardon's alleged sexual misconduct with young patients. The incidents stretched back to the mid-1950s and, according to victims' statements, continued during the time Reardon was under state investigation.

He retired in 1993 and died five years later. In November, a West Hartford homeowner remodeling Reardon's former residence came upon more than 50,000 photographs and 100 movies that police called child pornography. They depicted naked children, sometimes posed in group "tableau" settings, said Smith.

Four other groups of lawyers represent other plaintiffs. Kenneth J. Laska, of Plainville's Segal & Laska represents four, and the Bridgeport firm of Tremont & Sheldon represents two plaintiffs. West Hartford attorney Patrick Tomasiewicz and Frank C. Bartlett Jr., with Ouellette, Deganis & Gallagher in Cheshire, both have one client.

No mediator has been selected yet. Both plaintiffs' attorneys and the hospital are narrowing their lists of candidates, Edwards said, and when someone is found that both agree upon, he or she will have to be able to commit a substantial amount of time to the process. "Whether the case is resolved by mediation remains to be seen," he said.

All Reardon matters have been consolidated in the Waterbury complex litigation docket of Judge William T. Cremins, who recently held the first scheduling conference for the case. The hospital has retained Stuart Rosen, of the Hartford offices of Bingham McCutchen, to head the defense. Rosen has a background in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

In the weeks after the discovery of the photographic cache of evidence, the hospital responded with prominent newspaper and radio announcements assuring the public that it was interested in dealing with the situation and making sure that anyone harmed received care and fair compensation.