California Chiropractor Who Assisted in Helping Fraud Prosecutors Receives State Settlement For Board of Chiropractic Harrassment

California Governor Jerry Brown approves $600,000 settlement in chiropractor board firing

The former executive director of the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners alleged that she was harassed and fired for helping prosecutors investigate fraud in the industry.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
July 27, 2011

Reporting from Sacramento -- The former executive director of the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners will receive $600,000 to settle a claim that she was harassed and fired for helping prosecutors investigate fraud in the industry.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed a bill authorizing the settlement, under which the state did not admit any wrongdoing.

Catherine Hayes' lawsuit alleged that board members tried to intimidate her into not cooperating with a 2006 probe by the San Joaquin County district attorney's office into whether several chiropractors had engaged in insurance fraud. Eventually, she said, they retaliated by firing her.

Hayes' allegations were an embarrassment to the administration of then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Among those she accused of retaliation was Richard Tyler, the board chairman and a friend of Schwarzenegger who at one time served as his personal chiropractor. Also named in the suit was board member Francesco Columbu, a chiropractor and two-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilder — as well as the best man at the governor's wedding to Maria Shriver.

Hayes' lawsuit alleged that the former governor's friends ran the board with more interest in protecting the chiropractic profession than consumers.

"In light of all the facts, it was a just settlement," said Anthony Poidmore, an attorney for Hayes.

Board members have denied the allegations.

"We're very pleased that this was settled," Executive Officer Robert Puleo said Tuesday, "and we look forward to moving forward on the board's consumer protection mission."

The Legislature approved the Hayes settlement after board members voiced concern that a similar lawsuit had resulted in a big jury award.

In that case, former employee Carole Arbuckle was awarded $1.25 million in damages and $800,000 in legal fees after a jury found that the board's administrators in 2001 had retaliated against her for reporting that a board member had allowed a chiropractic license to lapse.

Brown signed 11 other bills Tuesday, including a measure banning the sale of animals on street corners in hopes of reducing the number of puppy mills in California. SB 917 by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) also sets tougher penalties for those convicted of animal abuse or cruelty, allowing a maximum jail sentence of one year in cruelty cases and a fine of up to $20,000.

The governor also signed into law a measure that designates any building used for dog-fighting or cockfighting to be a public nuisance, which makes it easier to evict the tenant. SB 426 is by Sen. Ron Calderon (D-Montebello).

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times



Broward County Chiropractor Dr. Troy Lomasky heads Coast Chiropractic of Wilton Manors, Florida. A graduate of the famed New York Chiropractic College, he specializes in quickly treating pain from a variety of conditions.  Services include:  Consultation, X-ray, spinal adjustments & massage therapy, physiotherapy, spinal decompression for disc problems; spinal and muscular rehabilitation.  New patients & same-day appointments available.   (954) 463-3036 or www.chiropractorwiltonmanors.com.  On-call for emergencies 24 hours.  Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.

Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine to Meet August 5 Via Teleconference; Again on August 12 In Palm Beach

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet on August 5 via teleconference and again on August 12 in Palm Beach at The Breakers Hotel. Both meetings are open to the public and agendas and meeting materials are provided via hyperlink below.

As part of the August 12 agenda, the Board will discuss Florida's new "Docs and Glocks" law (HB 155) and consider various applications for new chiropractic licensure.


August 5, 2011- Telephone Conference Call

• FAW Notice (pdf - 19kb)
• General Agenda (pdf - 7kb)

August 12, 2011 Meeting in Palm Beach at the Breakers

• FAW Notice (pdf - 19kb)
• Disciplinary Agenda (pdf - 10kb)
• General Agenda (pdf - 7kb)

Notice of August 5 Meeting/Workshop Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Chiropractic

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine announces a telephone conference call to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: Friday, August 5, 2011, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Health, 4042 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257; Meet Me Number: 1(888)808-6959, Conference Code: 9849329103

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: General board business.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Sherra W. Causey. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting or hearing, he/she will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence from which the appeal is to be issued.


Notice of August 12 Meeting/Workshop Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Chiropractic

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: Friday, August 12, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480, (561)655-6611

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: General board business.



Broward County Chiropractor Dr. Troy Lomasky heads Coast Chiropractic of Wilton Manors, Florida. A graduate of the famed New York Chiropractic College, he specializes in quickly treating pain from a variety of conditions. Services include: Consultation, X-ray, spinal adjustments & massage therapy, physiotherapy, spinal decompression for disc problems; spinal and muscular rehabilitation. New patients & same-day appointments available. (954) 463-3036 or www.chiropractorwiltonmanors.com. On-call for emergencies 24 hours. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.