Healthcare Law

A landmark Qui Tam lawsuit, United States of America, ex rel Paul Pew v. Seoul Medical Group, Inc., et al., has concluded with a massive $62 million settlement on March 26. The action, filed in the Central District of California, alleged that Seoul Medical Group (SMG) and its subsidiary Advanced Medical Management (AMM) submitted false diagnosis codes to fraudulently inflate payments from the Medicare Advantage program. The total settlement was paid by four entities: SMG and AMM (over $58M), former owner Dr. Min Young Cha ($1.8M), and Renaissance Imaging Medical Associates ($2.4M). The case also included claims of retaliation against the whistleblower, former executive Paul Pew, resolving his personal claims for wrongful termination and distress.

In a major antitrust battle over cardiac catheter markets, Innovative Health LLC sued Biosense Webster, Inc. for monopolization, attempted monopolization, and unlawful tying under the Sherman Act and California’s Cartwright Act. The case centered on Biosense’s CARTO 3 cardiac mapping system and its high-density mapping and ultrasound catheters. Innovative alleged Biosense tied clinical support to catheter purchases, blocked reprocessed competitors, and restricted hospital choices. On May 16, 2025, a California jury sided with Innovative on four counts, awarding $147,406,481 in damages, which are trebled by law to $442,219,443. The verdict underscores strict enforcement of antitrust rules in medical device markets and highlights the risks of exclusionary practices.