Fraud Charge Against Ex Chiropractor -The Damage is Done Minneapolis. MN: A Cambridge chiropractor and former City Council member was cliargcd last week with fraud under Minnesota's no-fault insurance laws. David Schornstcin allegedly billed for massages and chiropractic adjustments that lie did not perform, according to an investigation by the Commerce Fraud Bureau at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The investigation of Schornstcin was the second in the past year in which the bureau cliargcd someone with violating no-fault insurance laws. In November, the Commerce Department told the Legislature tliat it planned to make no-fault fraud cases a priority. The state's no-fault laws require insurance companies to pay up to $20,000 for medical expenses to people injured in a car accident, regardless of who"s at fault. Critics of the no-fault system say tlic laws arc easily exploited because tliey arc loosely written and poorly enforced. Supporters of tlic law say it is necessary to provide health care for tlic uninsured and to avoid costly litigation. Schornstcin is not in custody and could not be reached for comment. In 2012. he told tlic Isanti County News tliat he denied the accusations, which were first described by tlic Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners. "There wasn't any fraud perpetrated or anything done tliat was illegal. As far as conduct, and their accusation against myself. I've had enough dealing with employees trying to position themselves to gain from this." he told the newspaper. According to the complaint filed in Isanti County. Schornstcin owned the North Metro Chiropractic Clinic in Cambridge and employed a massage therapist and another chiropractor. In December2010. tlic massage therapist, identified in tlie complaint as S.E.. her husband and two children were in a car accident. They went to Schornstein for treatment after the accident, but investigators say lie provided some of Unit treatment after promising the state he would not work directly with patients. Schornstcin had a history of disciplinary actions with the chiropractic board for abuse of prescribed pain medications and alcohol. In 2011. he was discharged from a state monitoring program after lie relapsed, records show. The chiropractic board then suspended his license, but stayed the suspension if Schornstein refrained from treating patients. He could continue to operate his clinic. Bills submitted to Kcmpcr Insurance noted that Schornstcin had performed treatment, the complaint said. In 2012. the Board of Chiropractic Examiners revoked his license. Last \ car. he resigned from tlie Cambridge City Council. Now he faces criminal charges that accuse him of stealing $8.385 in no-fault benefits by claiming to have provided 58 massages and 19 chiropractic treatments, the complaint said. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of $30.000. Schornstein's revocation order states that he can petition to get his license reinstated in April 2014. but the board's executive director. Larry Spiccr. said the criminal charges may make it harderto do that. Spiccr said that he was unaware tliat the Commerce Department liad launched a criminal investigation and tliat he commends the department for taking action. "It's good to sec the department going after tlicsc types of cases, which can often be very vexing and complex." Spiccr said. Source: Star Tribune Chiropractor surrenders license after accused of sexting and smoking marijuana with teen patient Unidentified - A former chiropractor 1ms surrendered his state license to settle allegations that he sent sexually explicit text messages to a teenage patient and drank alcohol and smoked marijuana with the patient. The board filed administrative charges against the chiropractor last April. The charges said the unidentified patient was a high school senior when tlic chiropractor began treating the teen for chronic back pain Tlic board said Hart sent tlic patient numerous text messages, many of which "were of a sexual and graphic nature." Tlic board said tlic chiropractor also provided alcohol and marijuana and drank or smoked it with the patient. The licensing board also said tlic chiropractor employed a massage therapist whose license had been inactive since 2006. His lawyer said tliat tlic chiropractor continued to deny all the allegations. "However, he was planning on retiring at the end of 2013 anyway, so he signed the surrender to avoid any additional stress or expense". No criminal charges were filed. Tlic settlement with tlic chiropractic board says he may not seek reinstatement of his license for at least a year. Source: Anonymous
