Lake Charles OBGYN Voyourism

Update Feb 6th 2008

After holding a fairness hearing on December 14, 2007, attended by the lawyers from BCA, the state court judge approved a class-wide 3.45 million dollar settlement between Dr. Lafuria and his former patients. The judge also reaffirmed his appointment of Gerald Schiff as “Special Master” in this case. Judge Schiff, as special master, established criteria for the evaluation of claims and will review all submitted claims. After review, he will establish proposed allocations for each class member that submitted a claim.

As part of the settlement, both Dr. and Mrs. Lafuria assigned their rights against their insurance companies to the class. We will continue to pursue Dr. Lafuria’s malpractice insurance provider, as well as his other insurance providers to attempt to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients.

Criminal proceedings against Dr. Lafuria are still ongoing in state court.

Overview

Dr. Peter LaFuria was arrested on April 30, 2007, for video voyeurism. In an aggressive pursuit for justice, Brent Coon & Associates filed a civil lawsuit on May 11, 2007, on behalf of their clients.

Dr. LaFuria is accused of taking inappropriate photographs of his patients during routine examinations. Authorities served a search warrant April 24, 2007, on Dr. LaFuria and found hundreds of photographs of unidentified women stored in computers. Many of the women have now been identified as his patients. Deputies seized 13 computers, three digital cameras, a video camera and hundreds of computer discs from LaFuria’s medical offices and his residence.

While awaiting his criminal prosecution, Brent Coon & Associates along with a handful of other firms have pursued a civil lawsuit for damages on behalf of their clients and all other present and former patients of Dr. LaFuria who are similarly situated. There is presently a settlement class pending before a state court judge in Lake Charles, Louisiana. A fairness hearing has been set in December to confirm that any settlement with Dr. Lafuria is fair and reasonable to the class.