Patricia Stamler

A tenacious advocate who resolves complex legal issues for her clients.

-Attorney Patricia Stamler

I bring decades of legal experience to serve clients’ litigation needs in achieving success in a variety of legal matters including, representation of whistleblowers who protect taxpayers’ money under the Federal False Claims Act and its analogous state statutes (e.g. healthcare fraud; Anti-Kickback violations, etc.). Litigation of employment discrimination claims in state and federal court. Workplace counseling including: negotiation of severance agreements and employment agreements. Litigation of class action and collective action matters. I have also achieved outstanding results for clients who have been subjected to sexual abuse in a variety of settings (school, medical care, places of worship, etc.) I have also litigated several 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 cases and personal injury matters.

I have successfully handled dozens of False Claims Act cases, several that are nationwide, resulting in nearly a Billion dollars in recoveries to the governments, and combined multi-Million-dollar payments to my clients. My years of experience, my knowledge of the governing laws, combined with excellent working relationships with the government attorneys and outstanding client relationships contribute to my many successes.

I take pride in servicing clients from all walks of life at times of crisis. Whether my client is facing workplace legal problems or personal injuries, I work tirelessly to reach a positive resolution. I also assist employers in navigating the myriad federal and state laws and regulations governing the workplace.

Examples of Excellence

False Claims Act/Whistleblower

United States ex rel Sypula et al. v. AmerisourceBergen, et al., No.1:14-5278 (E.D. N.Y.)  $625 million civil settlement of civil fraud allegations based on the Federal and State False Claims Acts, arising out of its repackaging and distribution of Procrit, Aloxi, Kytril, and its generic equivalent, granistron, Anzemet and Neupogen (all supportive drugs for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy), from sterile glass vials to Pre-Filled Syringes that were not approved for sale or use by the United States Food and Drug Administration.  The settlement resolved claims arising out of AmerisourceBergen’s operation of a pharmacy that illegally repackaged injectable drugs under insanitary conditions to gain profits from the overfill.

United States ex rel Bass v. Walgreen Co., d/b/a Walgreens Pharmacy, Case No. 08-13827 (E.D. Mich.); United States ex rel Chin v Walgreen (C.D.C.A.) $7.9 million civil settlement of allegations that Walgreens offered illegal inducements to beneficiaries of government health care programs, in the form of gift cards, gift checks and other similar promotions that are prohibited by law, to transfer their prescriptions to Walgreens’ pharmacies.

United States ex rel Chesbrough v. Universal Imaging, et al. No. 2006-156 (E.D. Mich.), multi-million-dollar settlement arising out of allegations that Universal Imaging (an independent diagnostic testing facility) and its owners violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks or other unlawful remuneration to physicians for referrals for diagnostic tests.

United States ex rel Mahar, M.D. et al v. Visiting Physician Association an assumed name for U.S. Medical Management, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 03-73158 (E.D. Mich.) $9.5 million settlement of  allegations that Visiting Physicians Association submitted claims to the Medicare, TRICARE and Michigan Medicaid for unnecessary home visits and care plan oversight services, for unnecessary tests and procedures, and for more complex evaluation and management services than the services that Visiting Physicians Association actually provided.

United States ex rel Smallwood v. THI of Michigan et al., Civil Action No. 2:14-cv-0227-SLB (N.D. Ala.) $3.92 million settlement of allegations that the parent company, Hospice Compassus, submitted false claims to the government for hospice care for patients who were not eligible for such care.

United States ex rel Chin v. Rite Aid, (C.D.C.A.) $2.99 million civil settlement of allegations that Rite Aid offered illegal inducements, in the form of gift cards, to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to transfer their prescriptions to Rite Aid pharmacies.

US ex rel Baker v. Michigan Allied Health Professionals, et al., Civil Action No. 00-cv-74410-JCO (E.D. Mich.) seven figure settlement of allegations of false statements contained in cost reports.

US ex rel Wyke et al v. American International et al., Civil Action No. 5:01-cv-60109 (E.D. Mich.) seven figure settlement of allegations that defendants defrauded the government in regard to an airport lighting contract.

US ex rel Keiper v. Michigan Orthopedic Services, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 05-74640 (E.D. Mich.)-$900,000.00 settlement regarding allegations that defendants billed Medicare for items and services that were not provided at all or defendants billed for more expensive items and services than those items or services that were actually provided.

US ex rel Simpson et al. v. Mid-Michigan Physicians, P.C., et al., Civil Action No. 1:10-cv-56 (W.D. Mich.) six figure settlement of allegations that defendants facility and doctors defrauded federal healthcare programs by improperly assigning diagnosis codes in order to increase reimbursement; evaluation and management (E &M) services to the highest CPT code when a lower code was required; billing for E & M services when none were provided; and improperly billing at the physician rate for services performed by non-physician providers whose services were not “incident to” physician services at its Urgent Care facility.

US ex rel Branch v. Holland Community Hospital et al., Civil Action No. 1:09-cv-697 (W.D. Mich.) six figure settlement of allegations that defendants defrauded the government by billing services under the wrong modifier so that behavioral health services were falsely billed as surgical tech services; double billing; billing for services that were not rendered and billing bundled procedures in violation of Medicare regulations.

US ex rel Jane Doe et al. v. Oakwood Healthcare, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 03-72190 (E.D. Mich.) six figure settlement of allegations that defendant hospital and physicians defrauded the government by providing labor and delivery services to patients with fraudulent Medicaid cards.

United States ex rel Fillion v. Trinity Health et al., Civil Action No. 04-72635 (E.D. Mich., six figure settlement of allegations that St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital billed Medicare for medical services performed by nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialist and physician assistants as being performed by an oncologist or a neonatologist.

United States ex rel Zwiren, M.D. v. Garden City Hospital, et al., Case No. 12-cv-13318 (E.D. Mich.)-six figure settlement of allegations that defendants submitted or caused to be submitted claims to Medicare for diagnostic imaging services with radiology reports that physicians had not reviewed from November 1, 2010 through May 31, 2013 that were signed by proxy signatures.

United States ex rel Hunter v. Gateway Community Health, et al., Case No. 13-cv-12620 (E.D. Mich.)-six figure settlement of allegations that defendants improperly billed Medicaid for mental health services that were not rendered during January 1, 2012 to September 30, 2015, including billing Medicaid for higher-reimbursement rates for individual therapy sessions when the services were provided in group sessions; services allegedly provided to multiple patients at the same time by a single provider when it was impossible to have provided such services; or services by two staff for the same patient at the same time, even though it would have been impossible for both staff to render those services at the same time.

Class Action/Collective Action

Holder, et al. v. Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, et al., Case No. 1:10-cv-752 (W.D. Mich.)– co-lead counsel on a seven-figure settlement of class action case on behalf of almost 10,000 class members alleging negligence and nuisance arising out of a nearly one million gallons of tar sands crude oil spill, affecting nearly 30 miles of the Kalamazoo River and its neighboring residents and business owners.

Knispel, et al. v. Chrysler Group, LLC, Case No. 2:11-cv-11886 (E.D. Mich.), seven figure collective action settlement on behalf of 81 plaintiffs who alleged failure to pay overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Edwards et al. v. Henry Ford Hospital, Civil Action No. 01-72582 (E.D. Mich.), seven figure settlement on behalf of over 3,000 employees who alleged discrimination on the basis of race.

Adler, et al. v. Permanent Window, Inc., (f/k/a Weathervane Window, Inc., et al.), Civil Action No. 01-70479 (E.D. Mich.)-six figure settlement arising out of allegations of Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act class action.

Miller, et al v. City of Detroit, Wayne County Circuit Court, certified class action on behalf of over 1,000 wheelchair users alleging discrimination due to their inability to board the buses. Seven figure jury verdict which was overturned on appeal.

Stanek, et al. v. KC Transportation, et al., Case No. 2:12-cv-11327, (E.D. Mich.)-six figure class action settlement on behalf of owner-operator truck drivers, arising out of allegations of violations of federal trucking regulations and the Michigan Motor Vehicle Repair Act).

Section 42 U.S.C. 1983

Sutkiewicz v. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, et al., Case No. 92-cv-74412 DT (E.D. Mich.), six figure settlement arising out of allegations of false arrest and false imprisonment.

Derfiny v. Bouchard, et al., Civil Action No. 99-75331 (E.D. Mich.), seven figure settlement arising out of allegations of deliberate indifference to medical needs resulting in blindness.

Mukhtar v. Charter Township of Clinton, Civil Action No. 04-70913 (E.D. Mich.) six figure settlement of allegations of excessive force from a K-9 police dog injury to plaintiff’s foot.

Civil Rights – Other

Owen and the United States of America v. L’Anse Area Schools, et al., Civil Action No. 2:00-cv-71 (W.D. Mich., N.D.) six figure settlement and consent multi-year consent decree arising out of allegations of religious harassment and discrimination by students on plaintiff teacher.  The Department of Justice civil rights and education divisions intervened in the case as a matter of public importance.