Firm News
News
- HLB figured prominently in the recent dismissals in two U.S. District Courts of seven of the multiple lawsuits filed statewide by Erin Brockovich alleging improper Medicare reimbursement to hospitals and nursing homes. HLB represented nine of the defendants named in eight separate actions in the two USDC jurisdictions. HLB represented the largest group of hospital systems, and got the only dismissal based not only on standing but also on the merits of the claim. The lawsuits and attendant dismissals generated articles by Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, the National Law Journal, Modern Healthcare, and others. HLB attorney MARK JOHNSON, San Diego, was quoted in several articles regarding these significant decisions.
- HLB filed a class action suit in October on behalf of all California hospitals against Blue Cross of California regarding its practice of retroactive rescission of insurance policies after services have been provided.
Please see the Publications section for additional information.
- PATRIC HOOPER, Los Angeles, and CARY MILLER, San Diego, were named among "The Los Angeles Area's Best Lawyers" in THE LOS ANGELES TIMES "WEST" magazine's November 12, 2006 issue.
- STEPHEN PHILLIPS, San Francisco, recently joined HLB as a Partner and head of the Firm's new Technology Practice group, specializing in health care information technology, software and life science companies, as well as health care providers and suppliers statewide.
- Third quarter highlights include expansion in all practice areas, with additional staffing in the Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego offices. The Firm welcomes:
- August 2006:
Kim Worobec - Los Angeles Litigation Department - September 2006
Gabrielle Goldstein – San Francisco
Stephen Phillips – Partner, San Francisco, will head new
Technology Practice Group
Devin Senelick – Los Angeles Litigation Department - October 2006
Nina Adatia – Los Angeles
Salvatore Zimmitti - Los Angeles
Abigail Wong – Los Angeles
David Hatch – Los Angeles Business/Transactional Department
Jennifer Hartzell – San Diego Litigation Department
- August 2006:
Please visit the Attorneys section on this site for more information about all of our attorneys and their areas of expertise.
Events
- CHA Webinar – December 5, 2006: "California's New Charity Care and Discount Payment Law." HLB attorney JOHN HELLOW speaks on AB 774, accompanied by CHA and OSHPD leaders.
- The Employee Pharmacists Association, Orange County, hosted a seminar on November 19, 2006 on Inspections, Investigations, and other Regulatory Requirements featuring presentations by HLB attorneys STACIE NERONI, HOPE LEVY-BIEHL and MARK HARDIMAN, as well as guest DEA officials.
- "Billing and Billing Compliance Issues" was the topic addressed by HLB attorney DARON TOOCH at the recent CCLA Annual Conference in San Diego on November 8, 2006.
- "Pay for Performance: Punitive or Rewarding? An Examination of New Quality Initiatives for Hospitals" was the topic of statewide seminars presented on October 24 and 25, 2006 by HLB and The Camden Group. HLB attorneys JOHN HELLOW, LAURENCE GETZOFF, JODI BERLIN and DAVID HENNINGER were among the speakers.