U.S.A., State of Maryland ex rel. J. Doe v. Shore Health System, Inc.
On July 16, 2021 the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and the State of Maryland reached a nearly $9.5 million settlement with Shore Health System, Inc. to resolve False Claims Act allegations filed by a whistleblower. Shore Health, a subsidiary of the University of Maryland Medical System that operates two hospitals and several non-hospital outpatient centers located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, was alleged to have overcharged the Medicare and Maryland Medicaid programs between 2014 and 2018 for services provided to Medicare and dual eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
UFC MMA Fighters Antitrust Litigation
Cung Le, et al v. Zuffa, LLC, d/b/a Ultimate Fighting Championship (D. Nev.): Cohen Milstein is co-lead counsel in this certified wage suppression class action, representing mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who allege that UFC unlawfully monopolized the MMA market by, among other things, locking up fighters in exclusive contracts and acquiring MMA rivals. On March 20, 2024, parties reached a landmark $335 million settlement agreement.
UFCW & Employers Benefit Trust v. Sutter Health, et al.
Sutter Health Antitrust Litigation (Sup. Ct., San Fran. Cty., Cal.): On August 27, 2021, the Court granted final approval of a $575 million eve-of-trial settlement, which includes significant injunctive relief, in this antitrust class action against Sutter Health, one of the largest healthcare providers in California, for restraining hospital competition through anticompetitive contracting practices with insurance companies. Cohen Milstein was one of five firms that litigated this case since 2014 on behalf of a certified class of self-insured employers and union trust funds. California’s Attorney General joined the suit in March 2018.
USA, ex. rel. O’Connor v. National Spine and Pain Centers, LLC
United States ex rel. O’Connor v. National Spine and Pain Centers, LLC: A qui tam action alleging that pain management practices defrauded the government health care programs by billing for services furnished by physician assistants and nurse practitioners as “incident to” a physician’s service when the services did not qualify as such, and referring patients for unnecessary drug tests. The United States intervened in and settled this action for approximately $3.3 million.
USA, ex. rel., Lauren Kieff, et al. v. Wyeth
United States of America et al., ex rel. Lauren Kieff, v. Wyeth, No.1:03-CV-12366-DPW (D.Mass.): A qui tam action alleging that drug manufacturer Wyeth overcharged the state Medicaid programs by not providing them the statutorily required “best price” for a widely prescribed drug. This action resulted in a recovery of more than $780 million by the government.
VFX/Animation Workers: In re: Animation Workers Antitrust Litigation
VFX/Animation Workers: In re Animation Workers Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein represented a class of animation and visual effects workers in a lawsuit alleging that the defendants, who include Pixar, Lucasfilm Ltd. and DreamWorks Animation, secretly agreed not to solicit class members and to coordinate on compensation. The Court approved settlements with all of the defendants for a total of $168.5 million.
Vivian Englund v. World Pawn Exchange, LLC
Vivian Englund v. World Pawn Exchange, LLC (Cir. Crt., Coos Cnty., Or.): Cohen Milstein successfully represented the estate of a Kirsten Englund in a wrongful death case of first impression in Oregon state court and nationally, addressing the legal liability for federally licensed firearms dealers involved in online straw sales. The landmark settlement (October 2018) establishes important legal precedent at the state and federal levels regarding gun dealer responsibility for online sales of firearms.
Walmart Litigation
Walmart Litigation: Litigation against Walmart Stores has been ongoing since June 2001, in an effort dedicated to ensuring that millions of women who have worked for Walmart over the years receive equal pay and an equal chance at promotion.
Washington Hebrew Congregation Edlavitch Tyser Early Childhood Center Litigation
Doe, et al. v. Washington Hebrew Congregation, et al. (D.C. Supr. Ct.): Cohen Milstein represented the families of eight children between the ages of three and four who accused Washington Hebrew Congregation’s preschool, Edlavitch Tyser Early Childhood Center, as well as the head of the school of enabling a predator to sexually abuse the children for more than a two-year period. Since February 2023, all parties have agreed to a confidential settlement, concluding the litigation.