Former Giants Doc Framed Ex When She Dumped Him: Suit

NEW YORK CITY — A world-renowned sports doctor who has treated New York Giants is accused of having his ex-girlfriend arrested on "bogus" embezzlement charges after she discovered he'd hired a private detective to spy on her, Patch has learned.

Court papers detail how elite NYU Langone orthopedic surgeon John Kennedy allegedly spied on, bullied and framed his former girlfriend and employee for theft after she reported him to HR.

"I am really baffled by why you want to go to war with me," Kennedy allegedly told Suzanne Schafmeister, his former girlfriend of more than a decade. "In the end you will hurt yourself way more than me."

A month after Schafmeister filed her complaint, the 46-year-old office manager found herself in Manhattan Criminal Court facing grand larceny charges, court records show.

The criminal complaint states Schafmeister's employer accused her of increasing her salary on 11 payroll checks by more than $18,000 in total and using his money to pay an American Express account more than $130,000 in 2018.

But attorney Michael Willemin says the cash Kennedy claimed was stolen were simply checks he told Schafmeister to write, and Willemin pointed to the time it took him to call the cops as proof.

"She didn't withdraw the HR complaint, so he had her arrested," Willemin said. "It's a little bit outrageous, he held this over her head for a number of months."

Patch did not receive responses to requests for comment from Dr. Kennedy, the NYU Langone press office or the in-house counsel that represented the university in this matter.

A promotional video published to his NYU Langone Medical Center website shows Schafmeister posing next to Kennedy moments after he says, "We really have the best staff."

The "egregious and frightening threats" began after Schafmeister joined Kennedy as office manager at NYU's new Foot and Ankle Center the winter of 2019, the court papers say.

She had split with Kennedy months before when she discoverde he, "had multiple other girlfriends and had even married one of these girlfriends, all while dating Ms. Schafmeister," the lawsuit says.

Kennedy allegedly bugged conference rooms and forced other doctors to report her movements to his private detective, the complaint says.

Evidence includes a screenshot of a text message from one doctor to another that reads, "Dr Kennedy needs you to text scott the detective when shafy leaves the office today ... Without her knowing of course."

"There is no question that the foregoing conduct is not only illegal, but also twisted and frightening," the suit reads.

The doctor also threatened to have Schafmeister — a legal resident from Germany but not a U.S. citizen — deported when she refused to provide an itemized receipt of every gift he'd given to her.

The HR complaint was filed on Oct. 11 and Schafmeister told an HR representative she was scared for her safety, the suit says.

"You are not my only case that matters," the NYU rep allegedly replied on Nov. 12. "I will pursue this as is feasible."

Six days later, Schafmeister was behind bars.

Schafmeister was released without bail but a restraining order, since modified, barred her from going back to work, court records show.

Schafmeister is seeking a jury trial and damages on charges of discrimination and harassment against NYU Langone and Kennedy, court records show.

"She's a strong woman," said Schafmeister's attorney. "She stood up for her rights knowing retribution was likely."

"It's up to a jury what amount is significant," said Willemin. "But what amount of money would you take to experience this?"

Update: An NYU Langone Health spokesperson responded Monday with the following statement after this article was published:

"It is NYU Langone Health’s policy not to comment specifically on pending matters. We take seriously all internal allegations of inappropriate behavior and they have been and continue to be investigated. Likewise, we will defend the federal complaint in court at the appropriate time."