SANTA ANA — A sleep physician was acquitted Wednesday of conspiring to tear off insurance coverage corporations of about $7 million in fraudulent claims in a case that took a couple of decade to lastly go to trial.
Jurors deliberated for a couple of day earlier than acquitting Dr. Sim Carlisle Hoffman of 1 depend of conspiracy to commit insurance coverage fraud.
Following weeks of testimony, Orange County Superior Court docket Choose Richard King granted a movement Thursday dumping all however one in every of 121 felony prices within the case.
King dominated that prosecutors didn’t present corroborating proof to again up testimony of others who had been initially charged within the case however had their prices later dismissed.
The radiologist was initially charged with $17 million in staff’ compensation insurance coverage fraud, however over time the alleged harm was whittled right down to about $7 million.
Hoffman was indicted with two others in 2011, and prices within the case had been dismissed in 2013. The case was refiled in 2014. Since then, co-defendant Dr. Thomas Michael Heric died and prices in opposition to him had been dismissed.
Hoffman, who owned Superior Skilled Imaging, Superior Administration Providers and Higher Sleeping Medical Middle in Buena Park at one level confronted 883 counts of insurance coverage fraud.
Hoffman was accused of overbilling insurance coverage corporations for overpriced procedures at sleep and nerve testing facilities, prosecutors stated when the indictment was unsealed.