Two Items About Nursing Homes – $48m and Cameras

First, a large settlement ($48 million) from a nursing home operator on allegations that they non-necessary services and services not rendered.  According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office: The Ensign Group operated skilled nursing facilities that allegedly submitted false claims to Medicare. Between January 1, 1999, and August 31, 2011, the ...

Funny moment from SB 863 hearing

I forgot to mention a funny moment from the Workers Comp SB 863 hearing in front of Judge Wu.  Counsel for the plaintiffs was arguing that the exempt entities are big lien claimants and he waved around a print-out showing the largest lien claimants in the state. Judge Wu asked ...

Does this get you angry?

According to the Dallas Morning News: A former Texas prosecutor charged over a wrongful murder conviction agreed to a 10-day jail sentence Friday, accepting the punishment in front of the innocent man he helped put in prison for nearly 25 years. Ken Anderson also will be disbarred and must serve ...

From the Courtroom – Judge Wu indicates that he’s likely to enjoin SB 863

On November 4, Central District of California Judge George Wu indicated that he is inclined to enjoin the workers compensation lien activation fee contained in California’s SB 863.  At that hearing, which was held in a standing-room-only courtroom, he indicated that he was inclined to reject the plaintiffs’ constitutional Taking ...

More Thoughts On Reclassifying Hydrocodone

Following up on my other post, here, today’s New York Times reports: Among the provisions in the bill, pushed by Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, was one that is central to the new F.D.A. recommendations: reducing to 90 days the length of time in which a patient ...

FDA Suggests Reclassifying Pain Medications – Ironic?

Hydrocodone products such as Vicodin are some of the most popular pain medications available.  They are also some of the most abused.  On October 24, 2013, the FDA issued a statement of its intention to advise that Department of Health and Human Services reclassify these products to a stricter schedule ...

Ben-Shahar installed as President of Federal Bar Association

Bird Marella Principal Sharon Ben-Shahar was installed as the 2013-2014 President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  Throughout the year the FBA-Los Angeles hosts educational programs and social functions to advance federal jurisprudence and provide a networking forum for its members.  Bird Marella Principal Gary S. Lincenberg ...