Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla, a physician who most recently practiced at ModernMD Urgent Care in Woodhaven, Queens, was arrested on Sept. 9, 2024, and charged with third-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching, according to the criminal complaint from the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
The incident follows a similar reported abuse from January of 2023. Sitafalwalla was arrested two months following the alleged January abuse and released on his own recognizance, according to online sources.
A news article from the Queens Chronicle outlines the two cases of abuse:
On Jan. 19, 2023, at ModernMD Urgent Care, “A male patient visited for a Covid test, and as he was lying down on the examination bed, Amir Sitafalwalla, 72, allegedly asked the patient to unbuckle his pants.
Sitafalwalla then allegedly grabbed and complimented the patient’s sex organ and compared it to his own. He then asked the patient to remove his mask and kissed him.”
Then on Aug. 14, 2023, at ModernMD Urgent Care “Sitafalwalla asked a male patient to drop his pants, according to the criminal complaint. He then started rubbing the patient’s inner thigh, and allegedly began to rub his genitals without his consent and again complimented and compared the patient’s sex organ to his own.”
The criminal investigation is currently ongoing. Dr. Sitafalwalla has pleaded not guilty and has posted his $10,000 bail for his second arrest.
Authorities are encouraging other victims to seek help by calling the NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline at (212) 267-7273 or to come forward by calling NYPD’s Sexual Assault Hotline at (646) 610-7272.
With a mission of seeking justice for those harmed by perpetrators of sexual abuse, our firm has a proven track record of holding predatory doctors and negligent institutions accountable.
Led by esteemed attorney, Thomas Giuffra, we have successfully represented survivors in high-profile cases against medical professionals, including Dr. Darius Paduch and Dr. Robert Hadden, and boldly advocate on behalf of those who have suffered abuse under the guise of medical care.
Our firm provides strategic and aggressive legal representation to help survivors obtain the maximum compensation available and closure they deserve. We also invest the necessary resources into expert witness testimony to build strong cases and retain a psychologist on staff to ensure our representation is compassionate and trauma-informed.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Sitafalwalla or any other medical professional, we encourage you to reach out for a free and completely confidential consultation today.
Contact us by completing a form for a 100% free and confidential consultation or call (212) 684-1880.
According to professional biographies, Dr. Sitafalwalla is a New York physician living in Brooklyn, NY, and specializing in emergency and internal medicine. He graduated from the JJM Medical College in 1975 and has had numerous institutional affiliations such as:
To hold Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla accountable for sexual abuse in civil court, our experienced attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP can guide you through the lawsuit process, even if he hasn’t been criminally charged or is acquitted.
Our team has successfully handled numerous high-profile sexual assault cases, holding not only the perpetrator but also any accountable institutions liable if they enabled or ignored the abuse.
Led by internationally renowned attorney Thomas P. Giuffra, we build strong, personalized cases to obtain justice and compensation for survivors. We firmly believe that abuse impacts all survivors differently and that each case deserves personalized representation. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case in detail.
Sexual abuse and assault are criminal offenses that can lead to prison time and sex offender registration. However, survivors of doctor sexual abuse can also pursue civil lawsuits to seek financial compensation for the harm they’ve endured.
Civil claims allow victims to recover damages for medical expenses, therapy costs, emotional distress, and other non-economic losses, which may include punitive damages, or damages intended to punish the perpetrator. They also provide a path to justice even if the perpetrator is not convicted on criminal charges.
Additionally, civil lawsuits can hold negligent third parties—such as employers or medical institutions—accountable if they failed to prevent or respond to reports of abuse.
Unlike criminal cases, where guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, civil sexual abuse lawsuits require proof by a preponderance of the evidence—meaning it must be more likely than not (at least 51% certainty) that the abuse occurred. This lower burden of proof allows survivors to seek justice even when criminal charges are not filed or do not result in a conviction.
Evidence in a civil case can include medical records, witness statements, text messages, emails, or psychological evaluations that support the survivor’s claims. Some evidence establishes that the assault occurred, while other documentation demonstrates its lasting impact on the survivor’s life.
Sexual abuse and assault claims must be filed within a certain amount of time. The statute of limitations is a law that establishes that timeline. Adherence to the statute of limitations is crucial for a claim to be approved.
Recent New York laws have extended filing windows for certain survivors depending on when the abuse occurred, meaning you may still have time to seek justice. Our attorneys can review your case, determine the applicable statute of limitations and advise on your legal options.
Our experienced NYC attorneys can help you navigate a sexual abuse lawsuit. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of survivors and holding perpetrators and liable parties accountable. Call us today to discuss your case confidentially.
Call (212) 684-1880 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our sexual abuse and assault lawyers in New York.
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