EUGENE, Oregon (Legal Newsline) - A Douglas County pediatrician is suing a medical center, alleging he was retaliated against for blowing the whistle on fraudulent claims.
Dr. Robert Louis Dannenhoffer filed a lawsuit Jan. 26 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Eugene Division against Architrave Health and Mercy Medical Center, alleging retaliation in violation of the False Claims Act, blacklisting and other violations of Oregon Revised Statutes, and intentional interference with business relations.
The suit states Dannenhoffer previously served as the chief executive officer at Architrave, a joint venture between Mercy Medical Center and the Douglas County Independent Practice Association. According to the complaint, while Dannenhoffer was employed as Architrave's CEO, he reported to the federal government illegal payments to doctors totaling more than $10 million at Architrave's subsidiary, Umpqua Medical Group.
The suit states Dannenhoffer was fired from his position at Architrave on Feb. 17, 2015, allegedly for blowing the whistle on millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid and for taking steps to stop illegal kickbacks and doctor self-referrals in Douglas County.
Dannenhoffer seeks reinstatement to his former position, two times his lost compensation with interest, special and punitive damages, and costs of this action, including attorney fees. He is represented by attorneys Jennifer J. Middleton and Meredith Holley of Johnson Johnson & Schaller in Eugene.
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Eugene Division Case number 6:16-CV-00135-AA