Lawsuits piling up over Baltimore gynecologist who filmed patients

BALTIMORE The lawsuits are piling up against Johns Hopkins Hospital. More patients have come forward, afraid they were videotaped by their gynecologist during exams, CBS Baltimore reports.

More than a thousand women went to Dr. Nikita Levy--the now-deceased John Hopkins gynecologist accused of using a hidden camera to secretly record patient exams. Many of them are now seeking legal counsel during this shocking investigation. Dozens of these possible victims met with attorneys at a Baltimore hotel on Saturday to learn more about their violated privacy.

"One of the overwhelming repeat kind of questions you get is how did this happen? Where are the videos? How do I know if I'm on one of these videos?" said attorney Scott Lucas.

Levy was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Maryland home earlier this month, before the investigation into his secret taping practices was revealed.

Law professors are now weighing in about exactly what rights were violated by Levy's alleged actions. Some violations, such as being recorded without consent, were obvious, they say, while others could go ignored.

"Did Johns Hopkins notify them appropriately and in a timely fashion or at all?" asked law professor Anita Allen.

The first lawsuit against Johns Hopkins was filed in Baltimore City Court by Attorney Jonathan Schochor. His firm is currently representing 685 of Levy's former patients.

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"I believe frankly that each and every patient of this doctor who learned of his conduct, his malicious wanton unlawful outrageous conduct, has suffered damage," he said.

Some former patients are going up against the hospital on their own-like Tyesha Bell. "I had no idea that this man was capable of doing such acts," she said.

The hospital says that co-workers notified security about Levy's alleged misconduct on Feb. 4 and he was fired on Feb. 8. Johns Hopkins has remained tight-lipped about the investigation, but did express sympathy for Levy's alleged victims in a statement:

"Words cannot express how deeply sorry we are for every patient whose privacy may have been violated."