Chapman Law Group attorney Summer McKeivier recently took the podium to give an oral argument in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, OH, on behalf of our client in United States v. Mark Grenkoski. In the appeal, Summer’s argument challenged several evidentiary rulings and told the panel those errors justified reversal. The appeal focuses in part on whether the jury heard testimony that was speculative, unfairly prejudicial, or presented as expert opinion without the proper disclosure.
US v. Mark Grenkoski is part of a larger healthcare-related federal prosecution involving allegations tied to prescriptions and urine drug testing. Those issues put medical judgment at the center of the trial, including whether prescriptions were issued for a legitimate medical purpose and whether certain urine drug screens were medically necessary. That background matters because the government’s case depended in part on how those treatment decisions were presented to the jury.
During oral argument, Summer challenged two categories of testimony she argued should not have been presented the way they were at trial. First, she argued that a physician witness was allowed to answer a hypothetical about what he would have done under different circumstances, even though that testimony did not address what our client actually did and invited speculation on the ultimate issues in the case. She also argued that another witness went beyond fact testimony and offered opinions based on his training and experience in addiction medicine, including opinions about diversion, cash-pay visits, and prescription quantities, without the proper expert disclosure.
When health providers face healthcare fraud charges, the legal issues often reach beyond the allegations themselves and into questions of medical judgment, prescribing practices, and regulatory standards. That is why it is important to have attorneys who not only handle federal criminal cases, but who also understand the healthcare industry and have a proven track record defending healthcare professionals in those cases. For providers whose careers, reputations, and futures are on the line, that experience can make a meaningful difference.
Chapman Law Group has dedicated teams of individuals who specialize in all areas of healthcare defense. If you have a legal issue involving healthcare, then call us today to get a free consultation with an actual attorney who specializes in healthcare defense.
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