Anthony Taras was the next custodian of records to testify. He represented the County of Los Angeles. His title was county contract monitor. The County of Los Angeles pertains to counts 1, 6, 8, 9, and 99. Anthony Taras: I’m the county contract monitor. The county is self-insured but not self-administered. It was December 7,... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – Applied Risk Services and Safeway authenticate their records.
Dr. Hoffman is wearing a grey tweed suit. His black mask is of the KN95 design. He’s seated, as usual, at the far right end of the lawyers’ table. He’s wearing his ring with the large dark red stone on his left hand middle finger again. The jurors are filing in now as it’s... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – Witness Erin Milligan never had a conversation with Dr. Hoffman about single fiber electrodes.
A former biller who worked for Dr. Hoffman came to the stand. She was Erin Milligan. She was a large woman who was wearing a blue t-shirt and seemed to have a dour personality. Her energy felt downcast. This witness had worked for Hoffman 12 to 14 years ago, during the last years of the first... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial — Sleep technician, Norel Anguiano, answered that Dr. Hoffman was not involved in the sleep centers.
The next witness was Norel Anguiano. He had been a technician at Hoffman’s sleep center. He was sworn in and spelled his name for the record. Judge King: Scoot up and make sure you’re speaking into the microphone. Norel Anguiano was dressed all in black and wore sports shoes. He testified that he started working... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial –Witness Geraldine Covarrubias states Beverly Mitchell instructed her to bill for all patients with Spanish surnames for interpreting services.
The next witness was Geraldine Covarrubias. She had long dark hair and had worked for Dr. Hoffman. She was sworn in by the clerk and identified Dr. Hoffman in the court room. It was Monday, December 6th 2021. Vincent Marinaccio: Do you know a person by the name of Sim Hoffman? Geraldine Covarrubias: Yes. She... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial — Dan Geisler, custodian of records, comes to the stand from Church Mutual.
Witness Dan Geisler, another custodian of records, then came to the stand. He was from Church Mutual insurance company. He was testifying for count 93. He had short, dark brown hair and wore thin rimmed eye glasses. He was sworn in by the clerk. It was still December 6, 2021. Dan Geisler: I’m a claims... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – James Blount from Specialty Risk Services takes to the stand.
The jury is finally let back in the court room. The next witness is named James Blount. Blount used to work for Specialty Risk Services, which was a sub-division of the Hartford. He worked in the special investigations unit. He’s a big, weighty man who came to court in a pink shirt with his grey... Read More
Dr. Hoffman leaves court on November 17th 2021
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – Count 61 dropped by the prosecution. Third amended Information filed.
The warm feel of the wooden walls and long wooden lawyers’ table in court room C-45 in Orange County Superior Court seemed to invite the drama to come. Judge Richard King just took to the bench in his slender physique with his short brown-grey hair, light blue mask, and black robe. The jury had not... Read More
