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Concussion Lawsuit Targets Chiropractor Over Responsibility for Claims
After reaching settlement with Heubel months ago, Allegheny Health Network has trial date set in its claims against chiropractor, who says she did nothing wrong in treating former McDowell linebacker.
ERIE COUNTY, NYA settlement in January ended the main part of the concussion lawsuit that former McDowell High School linebacker Jonathan Heubel filed against Allegheny Health Network. But the case is not over. A trial has been tentatively set for July in Erie County Common Pleas Court over AHN’s claims that Heubeks chiropractor is jointly liable for his injuries. By going to triah AHN is seeking to have the chiropractor compensate AHN
for a portion of the health system’s settlement with Heubel and his
mother and legal guardian. Megan Beasley. The settlement remains
under seal.
A weeklong trial is tentatively set for mid-July, Judge David Ridge said at a status conference with lawyers for AHN and the chiropractor on Friday. Ridge encouraged the lawyers to pursue mediation in the meantime. Heubeks concussion-related brain injury left him unable to feed himself or walk on his own, and he is relearning shapes and how to count as part of his rehabilitation, according to records. The settlement is meant to compensate him for his injuries and pay for his care. Heubel, 20, known as Johnny, now lives with his family in Florida.
Didn’t the Heubel case end with the settlement?
The settlement reached in January is between only AHN and Heubel and his mother. At Friday’s status conference, a lawyer for AHN, Jason Fogue, of Pittsburgh, said AHN is still pursuing claims against the chiropractor, Phoebe Kuttema, of Fairview Township, in an attempt to have her practice indemnify AHN in light of the settlement. Kuttema is denying the claims.
Heubel and his mother — she is his legal guardian because of his incapacitated status — started the case in April 2021. They sued the Pittsburgh-based AHN and AHN’s Saint Vincent Medical Group, affiliated with AHN’s Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie.
They claimed professional negligence and demanded $22.5 million in damages. AHN denied the claims, and then joined Kuttema as a defendant in the underlying case in April 2023. The joinder pits AHN against Kuttema only.
What were the claims in the Heubel case?
Heubel and his mother sued over the traumatic brain injury he
suffered while playing for McDowell, in the Millcreek Township
School District, during a home football game on Sept. 25. 2020,
Heubel was 17 at the time. Heubel and his mother claimed Heubel fell victim during the game to what is known as second impact syndrome — they claimed he suffered a concussion on the field before he had recovered from a concussion that he suffered at a game two weeks earlier. Heubel and Beasley claimed the AHN athletic trainers, working under contract with the Millcreek School District, failed to properly diagnose Heubeks previous concussion.
The chiropractor, Kuttema, treated Heubel for headaches and neck and back pain leading up to the football game on Sept. 25, 2020, according to court records. AHN is contending that Kuttema and her practice should be held responsible for any negligence related to her treatment of him
Source: Eerie Times
Delray Beach Chiropractor Set for Early Release After Massive Healthcare Fraud
PALM BEACH, FL - In a surprising turn of events, Richard Davidson, a Delray Beach chiropractor entangled in a significant healthcare fraud, is slated for early release from federal prison. Davidson’s imminent release in September underscores a notable case among several Seven Bridges homeowners who found themselves behind bars on unrelated charges. Unraveling the FraudBack in August 2020, Davidson was indicted for orchestrating a vast healthcare fraud scheme through his practice in Delray Beach. Unlike his counterpails. Davidson promptly pled guilty, collaborating with prosecutors to dismantle the fraudulent operations. This cooperation seems to have paid off, with federal records indicating his sentence will
conclude nearly three years into a 74-month term. Despite his early release, Davidson’s journey towards restitution is far from over. He is mandated to serve a three-year probation period and repay the federal government over $10 million. In 2022, the Department of Justice seized and sold Davidson’s Seven Bridges home for $2.6 million as part of his plea agreement, also taking control of his bank, retirement, and children’s college savings accounts.
Davidson’s early release not only highlights the consequences of white-collar crime but also the potential for redemption and rehabilitation.
As Davidson prepares for his September release, his case serves as a cautionary tale for professionals in high-stakes industries. It underscores the importance of ethical practice and the severe repercussions of straying into fraudulent activities. Moreover, it sheds light on the judicial system’s capacity for leniency in cases where defendants show remorse and cooperate with authorities. Davidson’s story, from his rise to his fall and impending release, encapsulates the complex dynamics of crime, punishment, and possible redemption in today’s society.
Source: BNNbreaking.com
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