In the last seven days, three legal cases involving spine and orthopedics reached major developments.
1. The CFO of a spinal implant company has pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay more than $540,000 in bribes to surgeons in exchange for using the company’s products. Aditya Humad pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6.
2. Former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor reached a settlement in his lawsuit against David Gazzaniga, MD. Mr. Taylor had a pain injection for cracked ribs in September 2020 when his lung was punctured. At the time he didn’t file a grievance, but in 2021 he filed a lawsuit seeking at least $5 million in damages. Now, according to an order filed by the clerk for Torrance Superior Court Judge Alan B. Honeycutt, the judge received notice of a settlement reached between the parties.
3. Kevin Ward, former CEO of Des Moines-based Iowa Orthopedic Center, was awarded $1.3 million by an arbitrator after disputing his termination in a 2023 lawsuit. Mr. Ward was CEO of the practice from 2005 to June 2023. When he was fired, he sued, claiming discrimination, retaliation and defamation. The case went to private arbitration, and in January the arbitrator found Iowa Ortho had violated Ward’s employment agreement and awarded damages.
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