Accident Doctor Accused of No-Fault Insurance Fraud
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a physician employed at a Forest Hills medical clinic has been charged with insurance fraud for allegedly falsely billing insurance carriers under New York’s no-fault law for costly medical tests never provided to motor vehicle accident victims – even to hurt or injured patients.
The District Attorney identified the defendant as German Laufer, 61, of 22 Knutsen Drive in West Orange, N.J., who practices at medical clinics located at 101-20 Queens Boulevard, in Forest Hills; 197-27 Hillside Avenue, in Hollis; and 139-81 35 Avenue, in Flushing. The defendant also has a business known as Milan Medical located at 401 76th Street, Suite H1, in Brooklyn. The defendant was released without bail following his arraignment today in Queens Criminal Court on two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, nine counts of fourth-degree insurance fraud, nine counts of first-degree falsifying business records and seven counts of fourth-degree attempted grand larceny. The defendant faces up to 4 years in prison if convicted and the loss of his medical license. He was ordered to return to court on May 9, 2008.
District Attorney Brown said that, according to the criminal court complaint, between June 2003 and June 2006, the defendant submitted insurance claims for costly nerve conduction studies and needle electromyographs ("NCV/EMGs") that, in fact, were not performed on nine individuals. An NCV tests the flow of electrical currents across the nerves, and an EMG is a recording of the electrical activity in muscles and nerves. The defendant is alleged to have caused fraudulent claims for these unrendered and unnecessary medical tests to be submitted to three no-fault insurance companies in an amount totaling more than $15,000.
Commentary: Insurance fraud is an ongoing problem and casts aspersions on innocent accident victims. No-Fault fraud makes it harder for legitimately injured accident victims to get the care they need. I most recently wrote about his problem on February 12th, in a blog piece about doctors, a dentist, and psychologist sentenced to jail for No-Fault insurance fraud. For more information about dishonest doctors (and lawyers) see my FREE book: Good Lawyers Don’t Call You First.
