Calif. surgeon to pay $1.8M to settle lawsuit by patients who say they were sexually assaulted

Calif. surgeon to pay $1.8M for alleged assaults

STOCKTON, Calif. — A California plastic surgeon accused of molesting dozens of patients will pay $1.8 million in restitution to the alleged victims as part of a settlement of the civil case.

Thirty-seven former patients filed a lawsuit against Peter Chi (CHEE) for the alleged assaults at his business in Tracy. Lead plaintiff’s attorney Stewart Tabak wouldn’t disclose how the settlement made in San Joaquin County Superior Court would be distributed.

He said the payment was based largely upon a $3 million insurance policy Chi holds on his business, Beauty Renewed.

Chi’s civil defense attorney, Genese Dopson, would not comment Thursday.

The 47-year-old former plastic surgeon also faces criminal charges. His trial on 67 criminal counts is scheduled for October. The settlement cannot be used in that case as evidence against Chi.