Patients

Unmasking the Controversial Impact of Third-Party Litigation Funding on Public Health, Innovation, and Patients

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Third party litigation funding (TPLF) has become an increasingly prevalent practice in the civil justice system, impacting various sectors, particularly medical technology manufacturers. However, concerns are being raised about the potential misuse of TPLF, arguing that it adversely affects public health, hampers innovation, and poses risks for patients. The use of TPLF has expanded significantly in recent years, contributing to the rise of mass tort litigation. Typically, this funding involves a third party providing financial assistance to claimants in exchange for a portion of any settlement or judgment in their favor. While … Read more

Class Action Lawsuit Accuses UnitedHealthcare of Wrongfully Denying Coverage Using AI Algorithm for Elderly Patients’ Post-Acute Care Claims

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A recent class action lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare alleges that the health insurance provider wrongfully denied claims for post-acute care using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. The plaintiffs claim that UnitedHealthcare’s use of the “nH Predict” AI algorithm led to the rejection of elderly patients’ claims for stays in skilled nursing-care facilities and in-home care. When these denials were appealed to federal administrative law judges, roughly 90% of them were overturned. This lawsuit follows a similar case earlier this year against health insurance company Cigna, where plaintiffs accused the company of automatically denying … Read more

Hospital Faces Unprecedented $120 Million Jury Verdict for Failing to Detect Stroke in Patient’s CT Scan

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MOUNT PLEASANT, New York – In a historic verdict, a hospital located just north of New York City has been ordered to pay $120 million due to the failure of resident physicians to detect signs of a stroke in CT images. The jury deliberated for a day before reaching the largest verdict in Westchester County’s history, according to reports. The attorney representing the patient and his family, Ben Rubinowitz, described the verdict as unprecedented in his 40-year career. The case dates back to November 27, 2018, when William R. Lee, a commercial real estate broker, … Read more

Skilled Nursing Home Acquitted in Lawsuit Over Patient’s Fatal Infection: Jury Rejects $25 Million Claim

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A skilled nursing home in Jackson County has been absolved of liability in the death of a patient from a pressure ulcer, despite a $25 million compensation demand made by the plaintiffs. Geneva Miller, a resident of Timberlake Care Center in 2019, developed a buttock pressure ulcer that later led to fatal sepsis. Her granddaughters, who filed the lawsuit, alleged that the nursing staff failed to take necessary measures to prevent the avoidable wound. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jonathan Steele, argued for significant damages due to the “egregious corporate conduct” of the … Read more