GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE CO. et al v. HAMILTON HEALTHCARE P.C. et al
Filing
45
OPINION filed. Signed by Judge Anne E. Thompson on 3/9/2018. (mmh)
'
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
RECEIVED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
INSURANCE CO., GEICO INDEMNITY
CO., GEICO GENERAL INSURANCE
COMPANY, and GEICO CASUALTY
MAR - 9 2018·
AT 8:30--~~M
WILLIAM T WALSH
CLER!<'
co.,
Plaintiffs,
Civ. No. 17-0674
v.
OPINION
HAMILTON HEALTH CARE CENTER
P.C., BARRY FASS, M.D., DAVIDE.
SMITH, M.D., STEPHAN KOSMORSKY,
D.O., NOLA T. MAHONEY, D.O., JOHN
J. MAHONEY, D.O., ANTHONY F.
PIERRO, D.C., STEPHEN M. LYCHOCK,
D.C., ALEXANDER J. KISHYK, D.C.,
GARDEN STATE MAGNETIC
IMAGING, L.L.C., REHAN ZUBER!,
NAZISH KHAN a/k/a NASH KHAN,
TARIQ DIN, FAIZAH ZUBER!, M.D.,
Defendants.
THOMPSON, U.S.D.J.
This matter comes before the Court upon the motion by Plaintiffs Government Insurance
Co., GEICO Indemnity Co., GEICO General Insurance Co., and GEICO Casualty Co.
(collectively, "Plaintiffs") for Default Judgment as to Faizah Zuberi, Rehan Zuberi, Nazish
Khan, Tariq Din, and Garden State Magnetic Imaging, LLC (collectively, "Defaulting
Defendants"). (ECF No. 35.) Defendant Khan cross-moved to vacate default. (ECF Nos. 41,
43.) The Court has decided these Motions based upon the written submissions of the parties
1
pursuant to Local Civil Rule 78.1 (b ). For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs' Motion for
Default Judgment is granted, and Defendant Khan's Cross-Motion is denied.
BACKGROUND
I.
Factual Background
This case arises· out of an alleged insurance fraud scheme, whereby Plaintiffs claim that
all Defendants in this action made fraudulent insurance charges and claims for the fraudulent
provision of medical services. (Compl. if 1, ECF No~ 1.) Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that since
2008, Defendants have caused them to suffer $3,300,000 in damages for false insurance claims
and charges for "medically unnecessary, illusory, and unreimbursable radiology services,"
allegedly provided to individuals involved in car accidents covered by GEICO. (Pis.' Br. in
Support of Mot. Default J. [Pis.' Br.] at 4, ECF No. 35-1.) This scheme is based on New
Jersey's No-Fault Laws, which permit insured individuals to assign their rights to Personal Injury
Protection ("PIP"} benefits to healthcare service provi<;lers in exchange for the provision of
medically necessary services following automobile accidents. (Compl. if137-38.) The provider
must comply with all NJ statutory and regulatory provisions (id. 1139-41), such as the
prohibition on the ownership of a facility by someone convicted of a crime related to the ability
to own, operate, or manage a facility (id. 1153-55).
Garden State Magnetic Imaging, LLC, ("GSMI") is an ambulatory care facility providing
radiology services, owned and operated by Defendants F. Zuberi, Khan, and Din. (Compl. mf 83,
85, 88-89.) Plaintiffs allege that R. Zuberi-although ineligible to own or operate GSMI
because of a 1998 Medicaid fraud conviction-impennissibly co-owned, managed, and operated
GSMI. (Id. ifif 84, 87, 90-92.) Hamilton Healthcare, P.C., is a medical professional corporation,
owned and operated by Barry Fass, M.D., that also processed medically unnecessary exams,
2
testing, pain management, treatment, and other services. (Id.
ifif 4(i}, 132-36.)
GSMI's
Defendants entered into an illegal kick-back referral scheme with Hamilton Healthcare and Dr.
Fass. (Id.
ifif 102-08.)
Under this scheme, GSMI would bill NJ automobile in_surers for
medically unnecessary services using the patients referred to it by Hamilton Healthcare. (Id.
~
101.) "[R.] Zuberi and his associates paid more than $300,000.000 in illegal kickbacks to
healthcare service providers in exchange for patient referrals to Zuberi' s ambulatory care
facilities for expensive radiology services."
(Id.~
115 (referring to facts disclosed in press
release by NJ Attorney General John J. Hoffman).)
In June 2014, Defendant R. Zuberi and others were arrested and charged with criminal
violations associated with this scheme. (Id.
if 93.)
On October 16, 2014, seven medical service
providers who referred patients to Defendant R. Zuberi' s facilities were also arrested. (Id.
~
117.) On May 11, 2015, Defendant R. Zuberi "pleaded guilty to first-degree financial
facilitation of criminal activity, and second-degree conspiracy to commit ·commerical bribery in
connection with, among other things, the Defendants' fraudulent scheme." (Id.
if 122.)
Defendant Din pied guilty to "charges of conspiracy, money laundering, commerical bribery, and
misconduct of a corporate official" for the payment of kickbacks. (Id.
if 125.)
Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit on January 31, 2017. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiffs sued Hamilton
Healthcare and physicians at Hamilton Healthcare-Fass, Smith, Kosmorsky, Mahoney, Pierro,
Lychoch, Kishky-and GSMI and those associated with the ownership and control ofGSMI-F.
Zuberi, R. Zuberi, Din, and Khan. (Compl. 14.) The Complaint included twelve causes of
action, encompassing claims for: declaratory judgment, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 2202; violations of
the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act ("IFPA"}, N.J.S.A. 7:33A-1; violations of RICO,
18 U.S.C. § 1962(c)--(d); common law fraud; aiding and abetting; and unjust enrichment. (See
3
generally id.) A number of Defendants filed an Answer and Affirmative Defenses on March 29,
2017 (ECF No. 11), and many of those Defendants have since been dismissed per stipulation
(ECF Nos. 27, 34). Plaintiffs requested and the Clerk entered default against Defendants Tariq
Din and GSMI on April 28, 2017. (ECF No. 17.) Default was entered against Nazish Khan on
August 3, 2017. (ECF No. 29.)
On September 21, 2017, this Court granted Plaintiffs' Motion to Strike inadequate email
"answers" by Defendants R. and F. Zuberi. (ECF Nos. 30, 31.) Subsequently, per Plaintiffs'
request, the Clerk of the Court entered default as to Defendants R. Zuberi and F. Zuberi on
September 21, 2017. (ECF No. 32.) Plaintiffs have now moved for default judgment as to the
Defaulting Defendants. (ECF No. 35.) In opposition, Defendant Khan cross-moved to vacate
default on the basis of improper service and to deny default judgment (ECF No. 41, 43), and
Plaintiffs replied (ECF No. 42).
LEGAL STANDARD
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55, following the entry of default by the Clerk of
the Court, default judgment may be entered when "a party against whom a judgment for
affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend." Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). A
party who has made a proper showing under Rule 55 is not entitled to default judgment as of
·right; the entry of default is left to the district court's discretion. Hritz v. Woma Corp., 732 F.2d
1178, 1180 (3d Cir. 1984); United States v. $55,518.05 in U.S. Currency, 728 F.2d 192, 194-95
(3d Cir. 1984). "Default judgment is permissible only if the plaintiff's factual allegations
establish a right to the requested relief." E. Constr. & Elec., Inc. v. Universe Techs., Inc., 2011
WL 53185, at *3 (D.N.J. Jan. 6, 2011).
4
The court is to consider three factors in deciding whether default judgment is appropriate:
"(l) prejudice to the plaintiff if default is denied, (2) whether the defendant appears to have a
litigable defense, and (3) whether defendant's delay is due to culpable conduct," taken willfully
and in bad faith. Chamberlain v. Giampapa, 210 F.3d 154, 164 (3d Cir. 2000). The court also
has the discretion to set aside an entry of default for good cause. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(c); Bailey v.
United Airlines, 279 F.3d 194, 204 (3d Cir. 2002). When determining whether to vacate default,
the court weighs the same three Chamberlain
factor~.
The Third Circuit has cautioned that
default judgment is a sanction of last resort-cases are more appropriately decided on their
merits where practicable. See Hill v. Williamsport Police Dep't, 69 F. App'x 49, 51 (3d Cit.
2003); Hritz, 732 F.2d at 1181. Therefore, doubtful cases are to be resolved in favor of the party
moving to set aside the default so that cases may be decided on the merits. $55,518.05 in U.S.
Currency, 728 F.2d at 195.
DISCUSSION
I.
Cross-Motion to Vacate or Set-Aside Default Analysis
In response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment, Defendant Khan cross-moved to
vacate or set aside the entry of default for improper service of process. (Def. Khan's Cross-Mot.
at 4, ECF No. 41-3.) Because proper service of process is required to establish personal
jurisdiction over a defendant, the Court ''must first assess the adequacy of service of process in
order to determine whether default judgment should be entered." Days Inns Worldwide, Inc. v.
Hartex Ventures, Inc., 2011WL1211353, at *2 (D.N.J. Mar. 28, 2011) (citing Lampe v. Xouth,
Inc., 952 F.2d 697, 700-01 (3d Cir. 1991)). Where a plaintiff cannot demonstrate proper service,
default is not valid and must be set aside. Gold Kist, Inc. v. Laurinburg Oil Co., 756 F .2d 14, 19
(3d Cir. 1985); see also Moody Nat'[ FFI Meadowlands MT, LLCv. Gager, 2013 WL 622128, at
5
*4 (D.N.J. Jan. 24, 2013) ("If plaintiff failed to effect service of process on each defendant, then
entry of a default judgment is premature and unwarranted.").
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e), individuals "may be served in a judicial
district of the United States ... following state law for serving a summons in an action brought
in courts of general jurisdiction in. the state where the district court is located or where service is
made." Prudential Ins. Co. ofAm. v. Holladay, 2008 WL 1925293, at *2 (D.N.J. Apr. 30, 2008)
(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(l)). New Jersey law prefers personal service, but where service
cannot be effectuated successfully, substituted service may be made '"by certified mail, return
receipt requested or service as permitted by court order." Id. (citing New Jersey Court Rule 4:44(b)(l ), (3)); see also Guardian Life Ins. Co. ofAm. v. Estate of Walter Matesic, 2016 WL
3763340, at *2 (D.N.J. July 14, 2016).
Defendant Khan claims that she was improperly served twice in this action: at her former
home address and her sister's address. (Def. Khan's Cross-Mot. at 4.) Plaintiffs made various
attempts at service via directed guaranteed subpoena to an address for Defendant Khan found in·
LexisNexis's person locator. (Pls.' Mot. Substituted Service at 2-3, ECF No. 19-3.) After the
initial address proved unsuccessful, Plaintiffs unsuccessfully attempted another address found in
public deed records. (Id. at 3.) Plaintiffs provided documentation of service and subpoenas of
due diligence of service for February 24, 2017 and March 22, 2017. (Kang Deel. ,, 13, 17, ECF
No. 19-1; Exs. E, I, H, ECF No. 19-2.) Plaintiffs then moved for substituted service for
Defendants R. Zuberi and Khan. (ECF No. 19.) Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert ordered
substituted service for Defendant Khan by service upon the law firm Kamensky, Cohen &
Riechelson, P.C. (ECF No. 22), counsel for Defendant Khan in a recent civil action in Mercer
County, Chancery Court (Pls.' Mot. Substituted Service at 3-4, 6).
6
Plaintiffs submitted an affidavit of service attesting that the complaint was delivered to
the law offices of Kamensky, Cohen & Riechelson in Trenton, NJ for Philip J. Cohen, Esq., and
that the complaint was left with an individual named Fran Connnelly, a person authorized to
accept service. (ECF No. 24-1.) The parties agree that Mr. Cohen previously represented
Defendant Khan. (Cohen Cert.~ 1, ECF No. 41-5.) Mr. Cohen, however, certifies that although
the affidavit reflects delivery while he was away from the office, he did not actually receive the
complaint. (Id.
~
3--4.) Defendant Khan likewise claims she did not receive the complaint from
her former attorney. (Def. Khan Cross-Mot. at 1.) Despite Mr. Cohen's certifications, the Court
is satisfied that service on Defendant Khan was in fact valid. See Luce, Schwab & Kase, Inc. v.
Ski Conditioning Inc., 2012 WL 2035795, at *9 n.4 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Jwie 7, 2012)
(citing NJ cases for proposition that substituted service is valid despite the fact that the
defendants never received the complaint). Service was effectuated pursuant to court order for
substituted service, and it was in fact delivered to Defendant Khan's attorney and to an
individual who represented her ability to accept service. Therefore, the Court finds no basis to
vacate or set-aside default for improper service of process.
II.
Motion for Default Judgment and Cross-Motion to Deny Default Judgment Analysis
A. Sufficiency of Plaintiffs' Claims
Of the twelve causes of action pied in the Complaint, Plaintiffs move for default
judgment as to the second, sixth, and eighth causes of actions. Therefore, the following
discussion is limited to relief for (1) IFPA violations, (2) common law fraud, and (3) unjust
enrichment.
7
1. New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act Violations
The IFP A provides a remedy to insurance companies where individuals or practitioners
commit violations in a number of different categories, including: knowingly falsifying claims,
presenting false or misleading information related to a claim, and concealing or knowingly
failing to disclose effecting insurance entitlements or other insurance fraud violations. See
generally N.J.S.A. l 7:33A-4. The act also covers conduct such as fraudulent kickback-referral
schemes. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Northfield Med. Ctr., P.C., 159 A.3d 412, 423 (N.J. 2017) (finding
conduct violated the IFP A when defendants engaged in "an impermissible professional practice
structure that enabled [the defendant] to benefit from proceeds derived from his submission of
medical claims for reimbursement."). These violations and proof of such require a
preponderance of the evidence, id., and the standard for knowing is a "normal language
usage ... understood to be an awareness or knowledge," id. at 426. Thus, an IFP A claim
requires a plaintiff to allege "(l) knowledge, (2) falsity, and (3) materiality." Horizon Blue
Cross Blue Shield ofN.J. v. Focus Express Mail Pharmacy, Inc., 2017 WL 3588195, at *4
(D.N.J. Aug. 17, 2017).
Plaintiffs have pied violations of IFP A related to falsified insurance claims, concealment
and failure to disclose facts affecting entitlement to benefits, and a kickback referral scheme.
Plaintiffs' Complaint details that the Defaulting Defendants submitted countless HCFA-1500
claim forms and treatment reports to GEICO. These reports mispresented GSMI's compliance
with NJ law and eligibility to receive PIP benefits due to R. Zuberi's prior criminal conduct
which resulted in his imprisonment and barred him from participation in Medicaid and "legally
disqualified him from owning, managing, or operating an ambulatory care facility such as GSMI.
(Compl. ~~ 23, 84, 440.) Allstate Ins. Co. v. Greenberg, 871A.2d171, 176 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law.
8
Div. 2004). These forms and reports also misrepresented that the services provided in those
forms and reports complied with NJ law; in fact they were not medically necessary under PIP or
even actually administered to patients. (Compl. if 440.) And finally, the allegations detail an
extensive kickback relationship between GSMI and Hamilton Healthcare. (Compl. mf 101-31.)
As to all of these allegations, Plaintiffs articulate facts to meet the three criteria of an
IFPA claim. The Defaulting Defendants were well aware of their ineligibility to operate a
facility, but used a series of management, marketing, and billing agreements to involve R. Zuberi
nonetheless. (Id.
ifif 90-92.)
Defendants also knowingly orchestrated these fraudulent schemes,
paying Hamilton Healthcare and Fass for referrals of patients for the fraudulent billing. (Id.
ifif 114-18.)
They submitted fraudulent forms, reports, and bills, satisfying the second prong;
and their misrepresentations were material, as they comprised the basis for reports and bills and
induced Plaintiffs to pay out insurance benefits. See Zuberi, 2017 WL 4790383, at *5.
2. Common Law Fraud
A claim for common law fraud remains distinct from claims under the IFP A, demanding
additional elements than those described above. See Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield ofN.J.,
2017 WL 3588195, at *4. A claim of common law fraud under New Jersey law has five
elements: "(l) a material misrepresentation of a presently existing or past fact; (2) knowledge or
belief by the defendant of its falsity; (3) an intention that the other person rely on it; (4)
reasonable reliance thereon by the other person; and (5) resulting damages." Schenkel v. Flaster,
54 F. App'x 362, 364 (3d Cir. 2002) (citing Gennari v. Weichert Co. Realtors, 691A.2d350,
367 (N.J. 1997)). Where a party is under a duty to disclose to another, silence through omissions
or failure to inform-rather than active misrepresentation-can be fraudulent. Stockroom, Inc. v.
Dydacomp Dev. Corp., 941 F. Supp. 2d 537, 546 (D.N.J. 2013).
9
Here, as discussed above, the Defaulting Defendants engaged in an extensive scheme that
involved a number of material misrepresentations and omissions, including representations that
GSMI was eligible to receive PIP benefits and representations that the services billed were
legitimate and entitled to PIP benefits. (Compl., 463; Pls.' Br. at 14.) These fraudulent claims
were made for patients who never received or needed such treatment (see Compl. , 110),
satisfying the intent requirements insofar as Defendants knew they were false and intended for
Plaintiffs to rely on the representations and make payments. In other words, "presuming the
allegations to be true," these were misrepresentations of facts that Defendants knew to be true,
that caused reliance and damages to Plaintiffs ''by paying unwarranted insurance benefits." Va.
Sur. Co., Inc. v. Macedo, 2011WL1769858, at *17 (D.N.J. May 6, 2011) (finding "on-going
scheme to secure workers' compensation benefits" pursuant to a policy met criteria of common
law fraud).
Plaintiffs' claims of fraud, both under common law and under the IFPA, are subject to the
requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9. The Court will address this standard and
whether Plaintiffs' claims meet the requirements below with respect to Defendant Khan's
defenses.
3. Unjust Enrichment
A claim for unjust enrichment requires that the "defendant received a benefit and that
retention of that benefit without payment would be unjust." Stewart v. Beam Global Spirits &
Wine, Inc., 877 F. Supp. 2d 193, 196 (D.N.J. 2012) (quoting VRG Corp. v. GKN Realty Corp.,
641A.2d519, 526 (N.J. 1994)). There must also be proof that ''the plaintiff expected
remuneration from the defendant, or if the true facts were known to the plaintiff, he would have
expected remuneration from defendant, at the time the benefit was conferred." Id. (quoting
10
Callano v. Oakwood Park Homes Corp., 219 A.2d 332, 334 (N.J. 1966)). Unjust enrichment is a
form of quasi-contractual liability, and therefore, the plaintiff must allege an underlying direct
relationship between the parties. See Stewart, 877 F. Supp. 2d at 196; Snyder v. Farnam Cos.,
Inc., 792 F. Supp. 2d 712, 724 (D.N.J. 2011).
As already detailed in this Opinion, Defaulting Defendants received the benefits of PIP
coverage to which they were not entitled and for falsified services. The Court finds it reasonable
to assume that had Plaintiffs known these claims were false, that they would have expected
remuneration from Defendants. These claims are predicated on the underlying relationship
between insurance companies and medical service providers, pursuant to statutory provisions of
New Jersey's No-Fault Laws and PIP. Based on this relationship, "Plaintiffs presumed they
were paying for services rendered and receiving truthful treatment reports." Zuberi, 2017 WL
4790383, at *6. Plaintiffs are entitled to relief on these claims because Defaulting Defendants'
"[r]etention of these benefits would be unjust in light of the alleged insurance fraud scheme."
Va. Sur. Co., Inc., 2011WL1769858, at* 17. On balance, Plaintiffs are entitled to relief for
these claims.
B. Default Judgment Factors
The Court next weighs the three factors used to determine whether default judgment is
appropriate. These factors will also inform whether default should be vacated with respect
Defendant Khan for good cause shown.
1. Unfair Prejudice
First, Plaintiffs argue that they will be unfairly prejudiced, leaving them with no
opportunity for remedy, if default is denied. (Pls.' Br. at 24-25.) Prejudice occurs where a
plaintiffs ability to pursue its claim is impaired. Feliciano v. Reliant Tooling Co., 691F.2d653,
11
657 (3d Cir. 1982). Here, Defendants F. Zuberi, R. Zuberi, Din, and GSMI have failed to file
· any responsive pleadings or participate in this litigation thus far, 1 and their continued failure to
do so will leave Plaintiffs without recourse or "means of vindicating" these claims. Rouleau v.
Elwell, 2013 WL 5676068, at *4 (D.N.J. Oct. 17, 2013); United Comm., LLCv. Hallowell Int'/,
LLC, 2012 WL 5880295, at *4 (D.N.J. Nov. 21, 2012). Additionally, the entirety of this case
concerns an extensive fraud scheme, raising concern for potential further fraud and collusion and
thus continued prejudice to Plaintiffs. See U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Comm 'n v. Siegel,
2014 WL 7404537, at *8 (D.N.J. Dec. 30, 3014); Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Starlight Ballroom
Dance Club, Inc., 175 F. App'x 519, 524 (3d Cir. 2006). The Court notes that Defendant Khan's
opposition and Cross-Motion does not address this factor.
2. Meritorious Defense
Plaintiffs assert that Defaulting Defendants "cannot raise any meritorious defense." (Pls.'
Br. at 21.) Defendant Khan argues that Plaintiffs fail to meet the Rule 9(b) standard for pleading
fraud with particularity and that these claims are "improperly group pled" without describing the
conduct of individual defendants. (See Def. Khan's Cross-Mot. at 5-6.)
Whether a defendant has a meritorious or litigable defense is regarded as a dispositive
issue. Nat'/ Specialty Insur. Co. v. Papa, 2013 WL 1952151, at *2 (D.N.J. May 9, 2013); see
also $55,518.05 in U.S. Currency, 728 F.2d at 195 ("This is a critical issue because without a
meritorious defense [Defendant] could not win at trial. Therefore, there would be no point in
setting aside the default judgment ...."). A meritorious defense is one that would constitute a
complete defense at trial. $55,518.05 in U.S. Currency, 728 F.2d at 195; Williams v. Zhou, 2015
1 The
Court notes that Defendants R. and F. Zuberi filed email "answers," which were stricken
by the Court for their procedural and substantive deficie;ncies. (ECF No. 30.) Therefore, the ·
Complaint also remains unopposed with respect to F. and R. Zuberi.
12
WL 4940817, at *1 (D.N.J. Aug. 19, 2015). Where a defendant has not responded and there are
no defenses reflected in the record, courts cannot say whether a meritorious defense exists and
are permitted to presume that none exists. Coach, Inc. v. Bags & Accessories, 2011 WL
1882403, at *6 (D.N.J. May 17, 2011).
Defaulting Defendants R. Zuberi, F. Zuberi, Din, and GSMI have failed to answer, let
alone present the Court with any defense that could possibly be considered meritorious. While
Defendants R. and F. Zuberi provided some form of a response, their emails were substantively
inadequate (see Op. at 5, ECF No. 30), effectively leaving Plaintiffs' Complaint unopposed.
Moreover, Plaintiffs have articulated a sound right to relief, supra Section I.A. See Chanel, Inc.
v. Matos, 133 F.3d 678, 686 (D.N.J. 2015) ("Defendant has failed to proffer any defense to
Plaintiffs claims, meritorious or otherwise, and the Complaint does not otherwise suggest the
existence of any meritorious defense."). Finally, because Defendants R. Zuberi and Din pled
guilty to the criminal charges related to the scheme underlying this lawsuit (Compl. inf 27-29,
122, 125), it is unlikely those two Defendants have meritorious defenses. U.S. SEC v. Secure
Capital Funding Corp., 2013 WL 3286234, at *6 (D.N.J. Mar. 10, 2014) (finding fact that
defendant pled guilty to criminal charges for the same fraudulent conduct supported the
inference that he had no meritorious defense).
Defendant Khan defends on the ground that Plaintiffs' claims fail to meet the standard
required to plead fraud under Rule 9(b). Specifically, she argues that Plaintiffs attribute all fraud
generally to all Defendants and do not identify specific individuals or conduct, and instead,
Plaintiffs improperly group-plead. (Def. Khan's Cross-Mot. at 4-5.)2 "Pursuant to Rule 9(b), a
2 Defendant
Khan also claims that Plaintiffs fail to plead a claim for RICO violations. (Def.
Khan Cross-Mot. at 5-6.) As Plaintiffs note in their opposition, however, they have not moved
13
plaintiff alleging fraud must state the circumstances of the alleged fraud with sufficient
particularity to place the defendant on notice of the 'precise misconduct with which [it is]
charged."' Frederico v. Home Depot, 507F.3d188, 200 (3d Cir. 2007) (quoting Lum v~ Banko/
Am., 361 F.3d 217, 223-24 (3d Cir. 2004)) (alteration in original). This argument or defense
appears to be a reference to the "group pleading doctrine," which the Third Circuit describes as a
"judicial presumption that statements in group-published documents including annual reports and
press releases are attributable to officers and directors who have day-to-day control or
involvement in regular company operations." Winer Family Tr. v. Queen, 503 F.3d 319, 335 (3d
Cir. 2007). This doctrine is intended to overcome the particularity requirement when pleading
fraud, insofar as it "allows a plaintiff to plead that defendants made a misstatement or omission
of material fact without pleading particular facts associating the defendants to the alleged fraud."
Id. (citing 3 Thomas Lee Hanzen, Treatise on the Law of Sec. Reg., 12.13 (5th ed. 2006)); see
also In re Bio-Tech. Gen. Corp. Sec. Litig., 380 F. Supp. 2d 573, 584 (D.N.J. 2005) (noting that
group-pleading, found within securities law, did not survive the enactment of the Public
Securities Law Reform Act).
Here, Plaintiffs' Complaint identifies Defendant Khan as an "individual[] who owned,
controlled, and [was] associated with GSMI" (Compl., 4(vi)), or alternatively phrased, who
together with F. Zuberi and Din "owned, operated, and managed GSMI" (id. , 28). The
Complaint also includes an exceptionally detailed factual background that serves as the basis for
these fraud-based causes of action, with great specificity regarding the general scheme, the
kickback relationship, and examples of particular referrals.· (See Compl. ,, 37-430; Compl. Ex.
for summary judgment on the RICO claims. (Pls.' Reply at 8, ECF No. 42; see also Mot.
Default J. at 1.) Accordingly, the Court will not address the RICO arguments or defenses.
14
•
1, ECF No. 1-1.) It is true that Khan's name only appears in the Complaint's factual background
along with R. Zuberi, F. Zuberi, Din, and GSMI. The Court, however, is satisfied that the details
and facts of co-ownership, management, and control are sufficient to establish fraud claims
against Defendant Khan under Rule 9(b).
Moreover, Plaintiffs do not plead fraud with respect to securities law, and while the
allegations do involve misstatements and omissions in documents submitted to insurance
companies, this case is distinguishable from group-published securities documents. Defendant
Khan's argument is inapplicable to the present fraud claims, and thus would not constitute a
complete defense at trial or a meritorious defense for default judgment.
3. Culpable Conduct by Defendants
Finally, Plaintiffs argue that Defendants' failure to respond is per se culpable. Culpable
conduct refers to "actions taken willfully or in bad faith," Gross v. Stereo Component Sys., Inc.,
700 F.2d 120, 124 (3d Cir. 1983), rising above the level of mere negligence, Sourcecorp Inc. v.
Croney, 412 F. App'x 455, 460 (3d Cir. 2011). Failure to defend, despite service of a complaint,
is a product of a defendant's culpable conduct. Chanel, 133 F.3d at 687. Plaintiffs attempted to
effectuate regular and substituted service with leave of the Court. (ECF Nos. 19, 20.)
Additionally, the deficiencies that led the Court to strike the Zuberi Defendants' answers are also
a product of their own direct conduct, for which they are culpable. These facts indicate that
Defendants R. Zuberi, F. Zuberi, Din, and GSMI have approached this pending litigation with
willful neglect. Defendant Khan has now participated and cross-moved, certifying that she
would have participated timely had she known of the litigation. (Khan Cert. if 12, ECF No. 414.) Nonetheless, balancing these three factors and weighing all considerations, the Court finds
default judgment in favor of Plaintiffs against all Defaulting Defendants is appropriate.
15
•
III.
Plaintiffs' Requested Relief
While the court need not· accept the plaintiffs allegations regarding damages as true,
Chanel, Inc. v. Gordashevsky, 558 F. Supp. 2d 532, 535 (D.N.J. 2008), final judgment may be
entered where damages are for a sum certain, Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). Under the IFPA, "a
successful claimant under subsection a. shall recover treble damages if the court determines that
the defendant has engaged in a pattern of violating this act." N.J.S.A 17:33A-7(b); see Material
Damages Adjustment Corp. v. Open MRI ofFairview, 799 A.2d 731, 740 (N.J. Super. Ct. App.
Div. 2002) ("The statute also mandates treble damages ....") (emphasis added). According to
the IFPA, a pattern is at least five violations involving the same victim or similar actions by the
person being charged. Allstate Ins. Co., 871 A.2d at 181. For the purposes of this analysis,
"each false claim constitutes a separate fraudulent act." Id. (citing Merin v. Maglaki, 599 A.2d
1256, 1259 (N.J. 1992)).
Plaintiff requests a sum certain of $2,313 ,659. 73 against all Defaulting Defendants,
jointly and severally. (Proposed Order, Kang Deel., Ex. C, ECF No. 35-5.) This sum certain
represents $770,219.91 in actual damages, trebled. (Id.) Plaintiffs provide adequate
documentation and support for their·claim of damages amounting to $770,219.91, as the amount
GEICO paid in reliance on Defaulting Defendants' billing. (Kang Deel., Ex. B, Root Deel. if 5,
ECF No. 35-4.) Plaintiffs are also successful claimants under the IFPA-insurance companies
damaged as a result of violations of the IFPA, N.J.S.A 17:33A-7(a)-and thus where a pattern of
illegal violations is established, they are entitled to recover treble the value of damages pied.
Plaintiffs describe a nearly ten-year period of false claims, since 2008 (Pis.' Br. at 3), with over
20,000 illegal referrals accruing $200,000 in illegal kickbacks between 2008 and 2013 (Compl.
if 118(i)).
See also Zuberi, 2017 WL 4790383, at *5 (describing this same underlying conduct as
16
•
a "systematic pattern. over the course of nearly 10 years"); Material Damages Adjustment Corp.,
799 A.2d at 742 ("During the relevant time period, September 1997 to June 1999, Open MRI
submitted hundreds of claims and received thousands of dollars from the plaintiff as payment for
these claims."). This pattern of illegal and fraudulent conduct warrants statutory treble damages.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment is granted, and
Defendant Khan's Cross-Motion to Vacate Default is denied. A corresponding order will follow.
l)ate:~
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