Fraud

A Florida jury awarded SK Invest Group $735,610 after finding First Florida International (FFI) and owner Edward Genin liable for charging for work never performed, breaching contract, and committing fraud in a renovation project.

Michelle and Chris Ballesteros were awarded $30,529 in damages after falling victim to a fraudulent app development scheme. The couple had hired Brainy Apps to create “IEPPros,” an educational app, but received nothing in return. A Florida court issued a default judgment against four defendants, including Deron Wagner and John Lakatis, citing RICO and deceptive trade violations.

Rachele and Carmine Malangone sued Fieldstone, LLC and others over misrepresentations about land they purchased to build a two-bedroom home. Fieldstone failed to secure necessary approvals, leading to financial loss and emotional distress. On March 28, 2025, the jury awarded the Plaintiffs $287,104.48 against Fieldstone and $210,000.00 against Connecticut Concrete Solutions, LLC for fraud and other claims.

Abel A. Rodriguez, who was a minor when identity thieves opened fraudulent accounts in his name, successfully sued Adir International (d/b/a Curacao) and Experian for failing to remove the false credit entries despite repeated disputes. On March 25, 2025, a jury awarded Rodriguez $60,000 in damages—$40,000 for negligent noncompliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and $20,000 for violating the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act. The court did not award punitive damages.

The United States and the Plaintiff States (the United States and the Plaintiff States are collectively referred to herein as the “Government”) through their qui tam Relator Patricia Frattasio, sued Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its holding company, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Holding Company, Ltd. under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. They sought damages, penalties, and other remedies under federal and state false claims laws. Whistleblower Patricia Frattasio accused Biohaven of submitting fraudulent claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and VA. The claims allegedly violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. Frattasio claimed that Biohaven offered financial incentives to healthcare providers, such as speaking fees and meals, to encourage them to prescribe Nurtec ODT to federal healthcare beneficiaries. The lawsuit was filed in the United S

Restless Media GmbH ("Plaintiff") filed a racketeering lawsuit under the RICO Act alleging fraud against Thomas E. “Ted” Johnson, Milestone Motorcars Sales LLC, Milestone Motorcars LLC (the “Johnson Defendants”), Richard Cole and Rick Cole Auctions, Inc. (the “Cole Defendants”), and Donald E. Williams and the Black Hawk Collection (the “Williams Defendants”).

On April 22, 2022, Nautilus Insurance Company (“Nautilus”), an insurance company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, filed an insurance fraud lawsuit against Richard Alexander Murdaugh, his attorney Cory Fleming, and several other Defendants claiming it was owed damages because it paid an insurance claim on false pretenses. The case was tried in the United States District Court, South Carolina (Charleston). Honorable Richard M. Gergel presided over this lawsuit. [Case Number: 2:22cv1307] Nautilus issued a $5,000,000 umbrella policy to Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Sr., a licensed South Carolina attorney, for his Colleton County hunting lodge. Murdaugh filed a claim after his housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, died on February 26, 2018, following a fall on Februar

On March 19, 2020, Plaintiff Allan H. Applestein filed a fraud lawsuit in the District Court of New York Eastern (Case number: 1:20cv1454). Judge Frederic Block and Magistrate Judge Marcia M. Henry presided over the case. Allan Applestein, born in 1932, was a Harvard Law School graduate and a successful business investor residing in Aventura, Florida. He founded Diatomite Corporation of America (DCA), which owned approximately 1,000 acres of valuable land known as the Fones Cliffs Land in Richmond County, Virginia. By 2015, Applestein experienced a significant decline in health and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, requiring round-the-clock care. Howard Kleinhendler, an attorney and partner at Wachtel Missry LLP in New York, began representing Applestein and DCA in 2010. The initial engagement started with a $100,000 retainer, and total legal

On June 8, 2022, Plaintiff St. Charles Surgical Hospital, LLC and Center For Restorative Breast Surgery, L.L.C. filed an Insurance Underpayment lawsuit in the New Orleans Civil District Court(Case number: 2:19-cv-13497). Judge Sidney Cates presided over the case. St. Charles Surgical Hospital and the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery are renowned medical facilities specializing in breast cancer treatment. They provided high-quality medical services to patients insured by Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana), Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana, Inc., and HMO Louisiana, Inc. The plaintiffs were out-of-network providers with an ongoing business relationship with the defendants. Before performing any procedures, the plaintiffs followed Blue Cross's authorization process, obtaining approvals and verifying that the insurer would pay a f