The following is a roundup of recently reported healthcare industry lawsuits, lawsuit updates and settlements, beginning with the most recent.
1. Advocate Lutheran General faces lawsuit over endoscopes, infections
A woman filed a lawsuit against AdvocateLutheran GeneralHospital in Park Ridge, Ill., claiming she contracted an infection after an improperly cleaned endoscope was used during a procedure.
2. Former CEO of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach files $50M defamation lawsuit
A former CEO of the now-closed Pacific Hospital of Long Beach (Calif.) filed a defamation lawsuit claiming plaintiffs' attorneys in a pending case falsely stated he was involved in selling counterfeit spinal screws that were allegedly used in thousands of spinal surgeries.
3. DaVita to pay $389M to settle False Claims, Kickback case
Denver-based DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., agreed to pay $350 million and forfeit an additional $39 million to resolve allegations it paid kickbacks for patient referrals in violation of the False Claims Act.
4. Seventh Circuit reaffirms "worthless services" cases don't state an FCA claim
The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed its view that healthcare services being below appropriate standards does not constitute a claim under the False Claims Act.
5. Will the sale of Daughters of Charity Health System to Prime Healthcare be derailed by a union-backed lawsuit?
A class-action lawsuit was filed against Daughters of Charity Health System — a six-hospital network based in Los Altos Hills, Calif. —by nurses and other healthcare workers who are concerned about their pensions.
6. Illinois dermatologist convicted of submitting false claims for 800 patients
A dermatologist with a practice in Lombard, Ill., was convicted of defrauding Medicare and private health insurers by submitting false claims for more than 800 patients that totaled more than $2.6 million.
7. Former president of Riverside General Hospital convicted in $158M Medicare fraud scheme
Earnest Gibson III, the former president of Riverside GeneralHospital in Houston, was convicted for his participation in a $158 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false claims.
8. Walgreen faces defamation lawsuit filed by former CFO
Former Walgreen Co. CFO Wade Miquelon filed a defamation lawsuit against the company alleging he was defamed by comments made by a Walgreen executive and representative as well as a report that suggested he was "personally responsible" for the company's earnings forecast errors.
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