Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed additional lawsuits against imaging centers in the state accused of fraud due to their alleged participation in time-share leasing deals.
Madigan's office on Friday filed litigation against over a dozen MRI centers, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. Madigan was forced to refile the lawsuits after a state judge ruled in September that he needed more details on the allegations against each defendant.
The new lawsuit names as defendants Virginia-based imaging services firm MIDI LLC and affiliates, which operate locally as Open Advanced or Open MRI, according to the newspaper. The litigation charges the defendants with submitting more than $10 million in "inflated and illegal billings" by allegedly paying physicians for patient referrals, under the guise of leasing arrangements that made it appear as though referring physicians were in charge of the equipment themselves.
Attorneys for the centers told the Tribune that they believe the arrangements were lawful, and that they expect to be exonerated.
Related Reading
Illinois MRI leasing suit refiled, October 29, 2007
Judge derails Illinois MRI leasing suit, September 14, 2007
Illinois AG dishes dirt on 'sham' MRI leasing deals, May 17, 2007
Illinois AG's lawsuit may chill equipment leasing deals, January 24, 2007
Illinois AG joins leasing suit against MRI centers, January 18, 2007
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