Closed Ventura County Medical Group Will Not Face Criminal Charges, District Attorney Says
The Ventura County District Attorney's office has concluded that operators of the Simi Valley-based Family Health Care Medical Group did not commit any criminal violations in the events leading up to the medical group's "collapse" last October, the Ventura County Star reports. The district attorney's office determined that the closure, which left 135,000 patients without access to their physicians and creditors seeking up to $20 million in unpaid bills, was not a result of "embezzlement, theft or other criminal violations," according to a statement released Wednesday. In addition, the district attorney's office has ruled out any civil action. The Star reports that some of the medical group's creditors "were not surprised" by the district attorney's decision. The medical group's assets are being liquidated, but under California law, "unsecured creditors," such as doctors, are second in line behind "secured creditors," the federal government and former employees. Dr. Edward Feldman, a Conejo Valley obstetrician, said that several specialists still owed money by the medical group are considering filing a civil lawsuit (Smith, Ventura County Star, 3/29).
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