Schaefer Halleen, LLC Sues HealthEast And CentraCare For Destroying Neurosurgeon's Reputation

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctor Gregory Sherr, represented by the law firm of Schaefer Halleen, brought suit in Federal District Court today against HealthEast Care System, CentraCare Health, and six physicians affiliated with these healthcare providers.  The Complaint alleges a "pattern of anti-competitive, tortious and otherwise illegal conduct." 

View Complaint

Sherr was Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Saint Cloud Hospital when he resigned in early 2015 to join the Midwest Spine and Brain Institute (MSBI).  MSBI and Dr. Sherr then opened a neurosurgery clinic within blocks of St. Cloud Hospital, which is wholly owned by CentraCare.  Dr. Sherr also secured privileges to practice at a number of HealthEast hospitals.

Sherr had developed a significant patient base and stellar reputation, which posed a competitive threat to the in-house neurosurgeons at HealthEast and CentraCare.  The Complaint alleges that these neurosurgeons colluded to have baseless complaints brought against Sherr through the HealthEast "Peer Review" process.

A direct competitor of Sherr's chaired the HealthEast committee which then summarily suspended Sherr's privileges, violating HealthEast Bylaws. The in-house neurosurgeons then freely communicated about Sherr's suspension, amongst themselves and to the very tight-knit neurosurgery community, a flagrant violation of federal and state laws.  As a result, Sherr's reputation and career were devastated.  He was forced to resign his MSBI employment and relocate to Florida.

Sherr completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Minnesota, and intended to stay in Minnesota. "My intent was to develop, with MSBI's support, a state-of-the art neurosurgery approach to treating difficult cranial and spine cases.  To have this dream destroyed, and to deprive Minnesota citizens of this resource, simply because I was a competitive threat to in-house neurosurgeons, is a tragedy for complex medical care in this state," said Sherr.

"This case will be groundbreaking, as we intend to expose anti-competitive collusion between neurosurgeons at two of the largest health care providers in the state of Minnesota," states Sherr's lead counsel, Lawrence Schaefer. "We expect this litigation to confirm the obligation to maintain strict confidentiality and remove anti-competitive malice in medical peer review, which will strengthen medical care throughout the state and protect physicians in independent clinics," Schaefer added.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Lawrence P. Schaefer at 612-816-5388 (direct), 612-294-2601 or via email at [email protected]. Learn more about the firm's medical field advocacy at www.schaeferhalleen.com/medical-professionals.  

SOURCE Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Related Links

http://www.schaeferhalleen.com