Thirteen more women have filed a civil lawsuit accusing former Lawrence Township OB-GYN Bruce Pierce of sexually assaulting them during what were supposed to be routine office visits, with allegations stretching back to 2003. The new complaint, filed in Mercer County, lands just months after a separate lawsuit brought 31 other women forward with strikingly similar claims against the 60-year-old former doctor, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The new filing was lodged Tuesday, according to New Jersey Monitor, which reported that the 13 plaintiffs describe a pattern of abuse during exams at Pierce's former practice. One of the most disturbing allegations, detailed by NJ.com, involves a girl who was just 16 years old when she visited Pierce for a pap smear around 2003 to 2004. Pierce allegedly touched the teen's vagina in a sexual manner and squeezed her breasts for a prolonged period under the guise of a medical exam, with the girl reporting similar conduct during a follow-up visit in 2004.
A Pattern Spanning Decades, Plaintiffs Allege
Pierce is alleged to have assaulted patients at Delaware Valley OB/GYN and affiliated companies since at least 2000, practicing for nearly three decades before his career ended in 2024, according to Helping Survivors. In one case cited by NJ.com, a 21-year-old woman who saw Pierce for an ovarian cyst evaluation in 2008 said he touched her vagina sexually for about five minutes. Another plaintiff said she suffered vaginal bleeding after a 2017 appointment and has been too scared to attend another OB-GYN appointment since.
Former patients said they received medically unnecessary exams during which Pierce touched their breasts and vaginal areas for prolonged periods, and the lawsuits claim Pierce and Delaware Valley OB-GYN misled patients into believing the touching was part of legitimate medical procedures. The alleged abuse typically occurred without a chaperone present or after a chaperone had been dismissed from the room, per the lawsuit's account relayed by NJ.com. Two longtime patients reportedly testified about the alleged abuse as part of the case.
New Lawsuit Names Clinic Network as Defendant
The complaint filed Tuesday also names Pierce's employer, Delaware Valley OB-GYN and Infertility Group, along with national provider network Lifeline Medical Associates and Unified Women's Healthcare, alleging negligent training and oversight, the New Jersey Monitor reported. At least eight of the women in the earlier, 31-plaintiff lawsuit reportedly told other employees at the Delaware Valley clinic — based in Lawrence Township — about Pierce's behavior before the suits were filed. The outlet noted that the women described facing psychological trauma, depression, anxiety and humiliation as a result of the alleged abuse.
That first lawsuit, filed in Mercer County Superior Court in late July on behalf of 31 New Jersey women, alleges 13 causes of action including assault and battery, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, discrimination, medical malpractice and corporate negligence, the same outlet reported. It included allegations of rough and painful vaginal exams along with breast massaging. Attorney Nathaniel Foote represents the 31 plaintiffs in that case, while attorney Jerome Block represents the 13 newer accusers.
Attorney Says Complaints Went Unheeded for Years
Block said the women he represents are seeking accountability from Delaware Valley OB-GYN and its affiliated corporations, telling NJ.com that women complained about Pierce for years while corporate defendants failed to act. He characterized the two lawsuits as just the tip of the iceberg. Some plaintiffs have reported the alleged abuse to law enforcement, according to Foote, though it remains unclear what, if any, action has resulted.
Both lawsuits accuse Pierce of negligence, recklessness, medical malpractice, assault and battery, emotional distress, invasion of privacy and discrimination-law violations. They accuse Delaware Valley OB-GYN and its affiliates of corporate negligence, vicarious liability, malicious supervision, and malicious hiring and retention. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary and punitive damages, prejudgment interest, costs and other court-ordered relief, and the suits demand a jury trial along with relevant insurance documents.
License Action and the Criminal Question
Pierce's medical license was pulled from him in 2024. According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the state's Attorney General's Office called on the Board of Medical Examiners in October 2024 to investigate Pierce, and at a November 2024 hearing, state attorneys petitioned for an immediate temporary suspension, arguing his continued practice could pose a clear and imminent danger to public health and safety. The New Jersey Monitor reported that the board temporarily suspended his license, while the Attorney General's Office said the board filed its temporary-suspension order 12 days after the November 13, 2024 hearing and voted unanimously after finding two patients credible. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Tuesday that no criminal charges are currently pending against Pierce.
A Broader Push for Exam-Room Safeguards
The allegations against Pierce surface as New Jersey regulators have weighed new statewide rules meant to prevent sexual misconduct in doctors' offices. Proposed amendments would recognize a patient's right to have an observer present during sensitive examinations, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Under the plan, doctors would need to confirm that patients understand their right to have another licensed medical professional in the room and would be required to complete continuing education on preventing sexual misconduct, per Medical Xpress. Those proposed amendments, which would be enforced by the state Board of Medical Examiners, were open for public comment through June 14, 2024.
Pierce's case is not the only one drawing scrutiny to New Jersey medical offices this year. A separate lawsuit filed in August accused another New Jersey physician, Ritesh Kalra, of sexual abuse and prescription-related coercion involving 27 former patients, according to Yahoo Finance. As for Pierce, it remains unclear whether he has retained an attorney, and Delaware Valley OB-GYN has not responded to requests for comment reported in the coverage of the case.
