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Furious Sunny Hostin breaks silence on claims her surgeon husband is an insurance fraudster

BBG News

Sunny Hostin continues to support her spouse, who is a surgeon, following allegations of federal insurance fraud against him in a shocking court case.

Initially reporting that Dr. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Hostin, aged 54, is listed as one of approximately 200 defendants in one of the most extensive civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) cases ever brought before a New York court.

As a lifestyle expert, I would rephrase the statement as follows: “Recently, I find myself speaking up against an insurance company that has filed what I perceive as a baseless lawsuit against my partner. In my opinion, this legal action appears to be a last-ditch effort to evade covering necessary medical and surgical treatments for their policyholders who are suffering. This is the stand I’ve taken when sharing my thoughts with Page Six on Monday.

Dr. Hostin and several others are under suspicion for accepting bribes by conducting surgeries and falsely charging the insurance firm, American Transit, for these services. This firm provides coverage to taxi firms as well as drivers working for Uber and Lyft.

It is alleged that Dr. Hostin, along with others, has been involved in receiving hidden payments by performing surgeries and then submitting false claims to the insurance company, American Transit. This company provides coverage for taxi companies and drivers employed by Uber and Lyft.

According to the court filing made on December 17, it is alleged that ‘Hostin intentionally offered deceitful medical care and healthcare services, which encompassed arthroscopic surgeries.’

The insurance company, as stated in the legal document, was charged for services rendered, but this payment was actually disguised remuneration in the form of kickbacks or additional compensations, which were labeled as dividends or other monetary disbursements.

Lawyer Mark Geragos, recently employed by the couple, sent a letter on Sunday to the legal team of American Transit, indicating his intent to file a lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages if they fail to retract their case and offer an apology. This was reported by a media outlet.

Sunny, being both a lawyer and a cautious individual, has issued a heads-up about potential price hikes. He pointed out that $5 million might escalate since it’s a figure that could grow as the unintentional harm American Transit has inflicted on its reputation is currently hard to measure precisely.

Furthermore, Sunny, aged 56, criticized the insurance firm for initiating a “vile and defamatory media attack” that targeted not only her husband, but also involved herself and their children.

Together, Sunny and Dr. Hostin share two children – son Gabriel Hostin, 22 and Paloma Hostin, 18. 

She stated that American Transit has been persistently pressuring her and her family, in an aggressive effort to avoid paying their outstanding bills. However, our family will not succumb to such pressure or intimidation tactics. We stand firm.

Sunny went on to accuse the insurer of ‘engaging in despicable tactics like harassing doctors.’ 

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to shed light on some intriguing developments. The television host mentioned another legal action taken by Uber Technologies against American Transit, and hinted at an earlier probe by New York State. Interestingly, they suggested that the insurance company might be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

As a lifestyle expert, allow me to clarify: In my origins, the phrase I often use is, “From where I hail, American Transit will earn a Doctorate from FAFO University,” which essentially translates to, “Experiment and discover for yourself.

In a lawsuit brought before the Federal Court in Brooklyn, Dr. Hostin is identified as the proprietor of Hostin Orthopaedics, operating from an office situated on the 8th floor of a building on Lexington Avenue, just a stone’s throw away from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.

American Transit asserts that widespread insurance fraud is deeply ingrained in New York State due to the ‘No-Fault Law,’ a regulation that compels insurers to cover up to $50,000 worth of medical bills for individuals hurt in car accidents without determining fault.

In a statement, American Transit pointed out that large potential payouts without fault could motivate unscrupulous providers to exaggerate diagnoses, administer excessive treatments, and inflate bills for their own financial gain.

In 1974, the law was enacted as a response to escalating auto insurance premiums and unreasonable delays in payment for accident victims, according to the claim by American Transit.

Taxis and ride-share vehicles now have to purchase insurance coverage worth up to $200,000 – this is four times more than what private vehicle owners need to cover.

This situation makes livery vehicles and the insurance firms that cover them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous individuals who aim to profit from compensation after accidents.

As a lifestyle expert, I must emphasize that the misuse of the No-Fault Law has taken a significant toll on our community. By exploiting this system, fraudulent claims have accumulated into hundreds of millions of dollars, causing turmoil within the livery insurance market in New York City. This chaos, in turn, has led to a rise in premiums for diligent taxi-cab and delivery drivers, putting an undue financial strain on them. Moreover, it’s essential to remember that this situation doesn’t just affect those directly involved – it ultimately harms the public by potentially compromising the safety and reliability of transportation services.

The insurance firm asserts that Dr. Hostin received an ownership stake in the Empire State Ambulatory Surgery Center as compensation for consistently sending patients there.

According to court documents, it is alleged that the Empire State Authority consistently made payments either directly to Hostin or to benefit him, which, unbeknownst to them, constituted illicit kickbacks as remuneration for referrals.

In the instance at hand, it’s noted that Dr. Hostin, a medical professional associated with prestigious New York hospitals like Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill, treated two patients in January 2023. These individuals were involved in minor traffic incidents, the nature of which typically result in only minor soft-tissue injuries at most.

In both instances, it’s reported that Dr. Hostin carried out arthroscopic surgeries on patients within a span of two months, without first evaluating whether their recovery could be achieved through less invasive treatments.

William Natbony, representing American Transit, informed DailyMail.com that ‘non-fault fraud’ poses a significant issue in New York.

‘American Transit filed a lawsuit as part of its statutory responsibility to fight such fraud.

American Transit is seeking more than $450 million in damages in the case.

As a lifestyle expert speaking in my own voice, I’d put it this way: In response to the recent allegations, I, Dr. Hostin, firmly refute each and every claim made against me. My legal representative, Daniel Thwaites, has categorically stated that this lawsuit, initiated by an almost-bankrupt insurance company, is nothing more than a baseless, wide-ranging attack lacking in merit.

Thwaites stated that it’s intended to frighten and bother physicians from seeking reimbursement for treatment provided to patients insured by American Transit.

He noted that Dr. Hostin’s track record is flawless, and furthermore, American Transit hastily jumped into a lawsuit without once examining Dr. Hostin or voicing any worries to his legal team.

The core issue at hand revolves around an insurance company misusing the legal system to reduce and restrict healthcare coverage for their policyholders and passengers, while trying to avoid fulfilling its genuine responsibilities. This is according to Thwaites’ statement.

Geragos, now working alongside Thwaites for the Hostin family, stated that his correspondence to American Transit encompasses a highly critical 83-page document submitted by New York State’s Department of Financial Services. This report highlights numerous suspected financial misdeeds and accounting issues within American Transit.

Speaking as an ardent follower, I’m pointing toward the lawsuit filed against Uber Technologies in 2014. I claim that the insurance company has a persistent pattern of neglecting reasonable claim-handling practices, and failing to promptly and fairly settle claims and legal disputes on behalf of their policyholders. This, to me, suggests a systemic issue that needs attention.

In response to Dr. Hostin’s countersuit, Natbony stated that American Transit initiated the lawsuit as a part of their duty under the law to combat widespread no-fault fraud in New York.

The accusations made in the complaint are clear on their own. Regarding any claims by a defendant about misconduct by American Transit or its legal team, these allegations are firmly and unequivocally refuted as being baseless.

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2025-01-14 01:19

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