By Nita Johnson
Staff Writer
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
The number of persons joining in the lawsuits against heart doctors at the London hospital continues to grow, now reaching more than 450 persons.
Louisville attorney Hans Poppe filed an amendment to the recent lawsuit naming more than 330 persons claiming that cardiologists in London performed unnecessary heart-related procedures.
Poppe was in Laurel Circuit Court on Friday on behalf of previous lawsuits filed against the London heart specialists. While still in the preliminary stages of the cases, both the defendants and plaintiff’s attorneys are filing motions pertaining to certain cases set for hearing dates.
The lawsuit continues with the same claims against the London heart specialists, asking for “compensatory and punitive damages; interest; trial by jury; for costs herein expended.”
The lawsuit claims negligence/gross negligence, lack of informed consent, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and fraudulent concealment; negligent hiring, supervision, credentialing and privileging; civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment, violation of the Consumer Protection Act, battery and injury.
“As a direct, proximate and foreseeable result of Defendants’ conduct, Cardiac Plaintiffs suffered harm, including but not limited to: Unnecessary, painful and dangerous cardiac procedure; serious, painful and permanent injuries to mind and body, and great physical and mental pain and suffering,” the lawsuit states.
The cardiologists are accused of orchestrating procedures on cardiac patients that include insertion of stints and/or pacemakers, coronary bypass surgeries, and other heart-related procedures on patients who did not meet the minimum criteria for these procedures. The lawsuit claims that cardiologists billed insurance agencies such as Medicaid and private providers to enhance their own income as well as receiving incentives from Saint Joseph London and its owning companies. The hospital is being named as a potential conspirator in the money-making scheme and for not properly supervising or knowing of the alleged discrepancies in the procedures being done.
Attorneys for the hospital and individual cardiologists have submitted responses to the claims, asking that other cases be dismissed or that some plaintiffs be removed from the list, according to Scarlette Burton, co-counsel with Poppe Law Firm in Louisville, which has filed most of the cases.
Burton said that four of the most recent plaintiffs added to the lawsuit were representing deceased spouses and/or relatives. Overall, the lawsuit lists 11 plaintiffs died between 2009 and 2012.
njohnson@sentinel-echo.com
