State of California v. Gardens Regional (Tri-City), Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, Michael Drobot, et al.
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC534466
CPM represents whistleblowers in a California action under the California False Claims Act and the California Insurance Code, against Paul Richard Randall, Michael Drobot and several other individuals and entities involved in a vast scheme of fraud emanating from Southern California involving spinal surgeries. The case alleges that the defendants have defrauded the government and various California workers compensation insurance carriers by systematically arranging and performing spinal surgeries that: (1) are medically unnecessary; (2) use non-FDA approved, counterfeit surgical hardware, including rods and screws that are implanted in patients’ backs; (3) result from a vast array of kickbacks; and (4) are billed to insurance carriers and government payers at illegally inflated rates. On February 21, 2014, the primary defendant in CPM’s spine surgery qui tam case—Michael Drobot—was indicted on federal charges, along with California State Senator Ronald Calderon and his brother Tom. Drobot has been indicted for the conduct described in CPM’s whistleblower complaint, filed in May 2012. The case is being handled by Justin T. Berger.
