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A Chiropractor’s Hidden Camera May Have Photographed 20 Patients in a Restroom, Lawsuit Claims
SANTA CLARITA, CA - A chiropractor allegedly placed a hidden camera in the bathroom of a Valencia practice where he worked and inappropriately touched patients, according to a lawsuit filed by several patients.
Nicholas Vanderhyde, a part-time employee of a practice called the Joint Chiropractor, was arrested in June and released after posting bail. The lawsuit claims the small camera was placed in a bathroom cabinet at the chiropractor’s offices and was aimed at a toilet used by patients and employees. An employee discovered the camera and management reported the incident to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in L. A. County Superior Court.
After the discoveiy, the business emailed patients in June, according to a screenshot of the message included with the lawsuit. The email said the camera was in place from May 6 to 8 and may have captured images of about 20 people. The case is still active, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Investigators have identified two children and 10 adults as possible victuns, but that number could increase, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Vanderhyde was arrested June 4 on suspicion of being in possession of obscene material depicting a person under 18, according to the complaint. The Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Vanderhyde was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of child pornography and invasion of privacy.
The lawsuit includes 17 patients, including four minors, whose allegations include negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment and invasion of privacy. The lawsuit alleges that Vanderhyde also performed treatments that were outside the general practices of a chiropractor, including upper inner-thigh massage that touched a patient’s genitals. Another patient claimed he made sexually harassing comments about her body, according to the complaint. Other patients say they were subjected to similar treatments that constitute sexual battery, the lawsuit says. The patients claim management with the Joint Chiropractic ignored Vanderhyde’s behavior and his unwelcome advances and sexual harassment of female employees.
In a statement, Janna Trolia, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the Joint Chiropractic’s “failure to respond has only intensified our clients’ fears and concerns.” A spokesperson for the Joint Chiropractic said in an email to The Times, “We are not at liberty to discuss ongoing legal matters.”
It’s unclear whether Vanderhyde has legal representation. Jail records show he was arrested by deputies from the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s station and was released after posting bail. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said the case is under review.
Source: wgxa. tv
Cumberland County Chiropractor Accused of Misleading Patients with False Insurance Coverage Claims
Jason Michael Fullmer, of Central PA Spinal Health Chiropractic, LLC, made misleading claims that often led to out-of-pocket payments for patients, authorities claim
MECHANICSBURG, PA — A Mechanicsburg chiropractor has been accused of misleading patients into thinking their care would be covered by their insurance, according to a recent lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Hemy.
Jason Michael Fullmer, of Central PA Spinal Health Chiropractic, LLC, is accused of violating the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, along with the Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act, Hemy’s lawsuit said.
His misleading insurance representations often led to out-ofpocket payments from patients, who were threatened with debt collection if they did not pay, Hemy claims. “This chiropractor did a disservice to patients seeking care by either intentionally misleading them about insurance coverage or neglecting to send their claims to theninsurance providers,” Hemy said in a press release. “Patients were left with substantial invoices and threatened with collection actions if they did not pay up.” The lawsuit resulted from an investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Healthcare Section after receiving several consumer complaints.
The complaint states that though Fullmer did not submit claims to his patients’ insurance companies, he still attempted to collect large payments directly fr om his patients — payments for services that should have been covered, in pari or hi ftill, by the patient’s insurance, according to Hemy
Fullmer even went so far as to encourage his patients to file complaints with the Office of Attorney General against the insurance companies, as he misled consumers into believing the issues were the sole fault of the insurance providers.
Any consumers who believe they may be a victim of these practices should file a complaint with the Healthcare Section at www.attomeygeneral.gov, Henry said. The lawsuit was filed in the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas by Deputy Attorney General Molly K. Pohlhaus and Deputy Attorney General Tyler W. Ritchie.
Source: Fox43.com
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