Dr. Arpit Saxena (MSU) Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

What Is Dr. Saxena Charged With?

The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Dr. Saxena with four counts of criminal sexual conduct involving two patients, including:

• Three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison
• One count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and a $500 fine

These are criminal allegations, and Dr. Saxena is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. A civil claim, however, is a separate process with a different burden of proof. Survivors may pursue compensation regardless of how the criminal case is resolved.

Dr. Arpit Saxena Investigation Timeline

July 2024: Saxena Begins Treating Patients at MSU Health Care

Saxena begins seeing patients at the MSU Health Care Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Clinic in East Lansing as a resident physician.

January 2025: Alleged Assault Described in Court Filing

According to a notice filed in the Michigan Court of Claims, a patient who sought treatment for hip and groin pain after childbirth was allegedly assaulted during an examination in Saxena’s office.

April 3, 2025: First Report to Police

A patient reports to MSU police that she was sexually assaulted by the resident physician who had just examined and treated her at the clinic.

April 7, 2025: Removed From Patient Care

MSU removes Saxena from seeing patients four days after the report. According to the Detroit Free Press, he continued to treat patients the day after the first allegation was made.

October 8, 2025: Dismissed by MSU

Michigan State University formally dismisses Saxena. During the investigation, a second patient comes forward alleging she was also assaulted during a medical appointment.

September 3, 2026: Charges Authorized

The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office authorizes four counts of criminal sexual conduct, and a judge signs a warrant for Saxena’s arrest.

September 10, 2026: Arrest in Atlanta

Saxena is arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. MSU begins sending letters to patients seen by Saxena between July 2024 and April 2025.

September 25, 2026: Arraignment and $2 Million Bond

Saxena is arraigned in 54-B District Court in East Lansing and held on a $2 million bond. He is ordered to surrender his passport and driver’s license. Days later, a judge denies his request to reduce bond to $50,000. MSU police announce they have received three additional reports.

October 2026: Civil Notices Filed and Preliminary Exam Rescheduled

Former patients begin filing notices of intent to sue in the Michigan Court of Claims, and Saxena’s preliminary examination is moved to October 29, 2026. MSU confirms four active investigations beyond the two reports that led to criminal charges.

Did Michigan State University Do Enough to Protect Patients?

The allegations against Dr. Saxena have raised serious questions about how Michigan State University responded once concerns surfaced, and those questions are central to any civil claim against the institution.

According to news reports and statements from state regulators, MSU waited four days after the first report before removing Saxena from patient care. The university also did not report its disciplinary action to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) within the 30 days that state law requires. Reporting indicates it took roughly 17 months for LARA to be notified. That reporting system exists so licensing boards and future employers can identify physicians who pose a risk to patients.

Questions have also been raised about chaperone policies. According to court filings, at least one patient’s visits were classified as “non-sensitive” examinations, so no chaperone was present, even though osteopathic manipulative treatment involves extensive physical contact.

Institutions that employ, supervise, and credential physicians have a duty to screen them properly, monitor patient care, and act quickly when allegations arise. When a hospital or university fails in those duties, it may share legal responsibility for the harm that follows.

Can You File a Claim Against Dr. Saxena or Michigan State University?

If you were a patient of Dr. Saxena and believe you were touched inappropriately or sexually assaulted during an appointment, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit seeking compensation. You do not need to wait for the criminal case to end, and you may have a claim even if your experience is not part of the current criminal charges.

Many survivors of medical sexual abuse don’t immediately recognize what happened to them. Abuse disguised as treatment can be confusing, especially when it comes from a doctor you trusted to relieve your pain. If an examination involved touching that had nothing to do with your symptoms, if you were asked to undress more than the exam required, or if the provider positioned himself or touched you in a way that felt sexual, those concerns deserve to be taken seriously and are worth discussing with an attorney.

Who May Be Held Responsible?

Depending on the facts of your case, a civil claim may name more than one party, including:

• Dr. Arpit Saxena, as the individual accused of the abuse
• Michigan State University and MSU Health Care, which employed and supervised him and controlled clinic policies
• The residency program and its supervisors, if they failed to properly screen, train, or oversee him
• Prior employers or training programs, if they knew of allegations and failed to report them

What Compensation Can Survivors Pursue?

A civil lawsuit can hold the abuser and any negligent institutions accountable while providing financial resources for recovery. Depending on your circumstances, compensation may include:

• Counseling, therapy, and other mental health treatment, both past and future
• Medical expenses related to the abuse
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and psychological trauma
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Other economic and non-economic damages allowed under Michigan law

No two cases are alike, and the value of a claim depends on the specific facts, the harm suffered, and the parties involved.

Deadlines to File: Michigan Statute of Limitations and Court of Claims Notice

Michigan’s statute of limitations for personal injury and sexual abuse claims sets strict time limits for filing. Under MCL 600.5805, adult survivors of criminal sexual conduct generally have 10 years from the date of the abuse to file a civil lawsuit against the abuser. Survivors who were minors at the time of the abuse may have longer, in some cases until age 28.

Claims against Michigan State University involve an additional and much shorter deadline. Because MSU is a public university, claims against it are generally brought in the Michigan Court of Claims. A notice of intent to file a claim, or the claim itself, typically must be filed within six months of the event that gave rise to the injury. Questions about how that deadline applies when a patient didn’t recognize the abuse until later are complex. Waiting could cost you the right to pursue compensation from the university.

If you were treated by Dr. Saxena, speak with an attorney as soon as possible, even if you are still deciding whether to take legal action.

How Lipton Law Can Help

Coming forward after abuse in a medical setting takes courage, and you deserve a legal team that will listen without judgment. Lipton Law has decades of experience holding hospitals, healthcare providers, and large institutions accountable for the harm they cause patients. We understand both the medical and legal sides of these cases, and we work with investigators, medical professionals, and other experts to build strong claims.

When you contact Lipton Law about a claim involving Dr. Saxena, we can:

• Listen to your experience in a private, confidential setting
• Explain your rights and the deadlines that may apply to your case
• Investigate the role Michigan State University and others may have played
• Handle communication with the university, insurers, and opposing counsel
• Pursue the full compensation available under Michigan law

We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and a consultation carries no obligation to hire our firm.

A Firm Invested in Michigan’s Civil Justice System

Lipton Law’s attorneys are deeply involved in protecting the rights of injured people across Michigan, both inside and outside the courtroom. Two of our attorneys, Marc Lipton and Ron Weiner, have served as president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ), a statewide organization founded in 1945 that today includes more than 1,300 lawyers and legal professionals dedicated to advocating for people who have been injured or wronged.

Our involvement continues today. Steffani Chocron serves as MAJ Secretary for the 2026–2027 term, and Sean McNally sits on the organization’s Executive Board. Kyle Kelly contributes to the Amicus Committee, which weighs in on appeals that shape Michigan law, and Darnell Smith was selected for MAJ’s Leadership Academy, a program that prepares attorneys for leadership roles in the state’s trial lawyer community.

This leadership reflects Lipton Law’s long-standing commitment to strengthening patient protections, shaping the laws that govern these cases, and holding powerful institutions accountable when they fail the people who trust them.