Serious Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

On August 29, 2007 Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will hold a press conference in front of D.C. Superior Court to call attention to the District of Columbia’s unfair attempts to engage in what the Washington Post has termed “Billing for Abuse.” The District of Columbia has attempted to recover of more than $2.2 million from an individual that was institutionalized in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Due to the District of Columbia’s negligent failure to adequately supervise the individual, he tore his eyes out with his own hands. Now, in addition to severe psychological disability, he is blind. The District of Columbia seeks to recover the money funded by Medicaid, spent to “care” for this individual from the proceeds of any settlement or jury verdict that is reached in favor of their patient, resulting from the harm caused to him by the District of Columbia’s own negligence. City Council Chairman Vincent Gray and Councilmember At-Large Philip Mendelson have each individually written Mayor Fenty requesting that the District of Columbia not continue in its efforts to collect this money. Attached to this blog are the letters to Mayor Fenty from Councilmembers Gray and Mendelson. To date, Mayor Fenty has failed to instruct the staff of the Attorney General’s office not to pursue this unfair and unjust effort to bill for their own abuse. Accordingly, to call attention to this matter, the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will hold a press conference on August 29, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in front of the D.C. Superior Courthouse located at 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. All members of the public are invited to attend this press conference.

by Ira Sherman, Esq.
http://www.chaikinandsherman.com/www.chaikinandsherman.com/Mendelson%20%26%20Gray%20letters%208-07.pdf