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Landmark Cases
Case Name: Julie ROY v. Renatus HARTOGS, M.D.
Date, Location, Cite: 1976 NY
381 NYS 2d 587
NY Appellate Court
Hartogs treated Roy from 1969 - '70 with sex. The plaintiff said she was emotionally injured. Dr.
Hartogs said there was no law against seduction. The Court awarded both Compensatory &
Punitive damages. Appeals Court affirmed, said this was malpractice, not seduction, but dropped
punitive damages, because, they said, he was incompetent, not malicious. Dr. Hartogs sued his
insurance company, they said treatment with sex was not covered under professional Rx, was not
"treatment"; they won. The case was made into a book & movie; Dr. Hartogs got no royalties.