The prosecution picked up again with the testimony of Dr. Boniface Onubah. They had taken a pause with Onubah in order to examine Dr. Stuart Strausberg remotely. Shaddi Kamiabipour asked what year he started working for Dr. Hoffman. Onubah couldn’t quite remember; he answered he didn’t have an exact recollection. Today was the late morning... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – Witness Stuart Strausberg, radiologist, demonstrates on screen to court room that 3D MRIs were done.
The rain was pouring and the wind was howling on this morning in Santa Ana, California. The next witness was radiologist Dr. Stuart Strausberg. He was going to be testifying remotely. It was Tuesday, December 14th 2021. The court was getting ready to interact with Dr. Strausberg on the screen. He got logged in. Strausberg... Read More
The next witness was a neurologist from Nigeria named Boniface Onubah. He had written reports on patients at Hoffman’s sleep center, Pacific Sleep. Judge Richard King: If you wouldn’t mind taking off your mask. It was December 13, 2021. Dr. Onubah testified that he’s a physician-neurologist since June of 1985 and in California since 1993. ... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – MRI technician, Marcelo Ayala, says he did 3D image sequencing.
Defense attorney Bill Fleming stated to the court that he had a witness who would testify that these images he had up on the screen are 3D MRIs. He then focused on just one image, and indicated it was a 3D MRI. It was December 13, 2021. Since the preliminary hearing in September of 2015,... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial – Prosecution argues vociferously that 3D MRIs were not done.
The next witness was the custodian of records, John Auvinen, from Fireman’s Fund. He answered the routine questions from the prosecution. Shaddi Kamiabipour, senior deputy district attorney, was now back in the court room at the lawyers’ table with prosecutor Vince Marinaccio. She has been on this case since its inception in May of 2011. ... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial — Sleep study technician, Douglas Soto, never mentioned opening application kits or doing education and training.
Judge Richard King opened court this morning by telling the parties again that he is becoming more and more knowledgeable of this case. As the trial evolves, he is gaining understanding. He has been open and honest since the beginning of this trial on November 2nd 2021. He doesn’t know the case and he’s going... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial — Republic Indemnity testifies through its custodian of records Matthew Stansell. Judge expresses concern over lack of evidence on two patients’ alleged fraudulent sleep studies.
Matthew Stansell from Republic Indemnity was the next witness and custodian of records to take the stand. He testified he’s the Special Investigations Unit Supervisor. He answered the prosecutor, Vincent Marinaccio, by stating yes that Republic Indemnity received a demand letter from the Orange County District Attorney. This day of testimony was December 7th 2021. ... Read More
Sim Hoffman, M.D. Claims Fraud Trial — Custodians of records for City of Los Angeles and Zenith Insurance testify.
The next witness was Emmanuel Gagar, the custodian of records from the City of Los Angeles. He was sworn in by the clerk and told by the judge to speak directly into the microphone. He answered the prosecutor Vincent Marinaccio by stating he was employed, and by the City of Los Angeles, and that the... Read More
