It looks like an insurance company earned its “PHD from FAFO University” — as Sunny Hostin told us they would.
American Transit accused the “View” co-host’s doctor husband, Dr. Emmanuel “Manny” Hostin, along with 200 other medics, of fraudulently making insurance claims, and getting kickbacks, in one of the biggest RICO cases ever filed in New York.
The Hostins lawyered up, threatened to countersue for $5 million, and accused the insurance company of “harrassing [their] family.]”
On Tuesday, American Transit issued a mea culpa and agreed to pay Dr. Hostin for the claims he submitted.
“Dr. Hostin was named primarily because he holds a small share of a surgical center that was involved in the dispute,” American Transit said in a statement posted on its website, “After further discussions with Dr. Hostin and his attorneys and investigation by ATIC, ATIC has voluntarily withdrawn the suit against Dr. Hostin, and dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice.”
Additionally, it said “ATIC has agreed to make payment on the invoices submitted by Dr. Hostin to ATIC.”
It also expressed deep regret for “any public speculation against Dr. Emmanuel Hostin, his wife, Sunny Hostin, or his children, which may have resulted from the lawsuit.”
Dr. Hostin, an orthopedic surgeon, was one of 200 doctors named in the lawsuit, alleging that he “knowingly provided fraudulent medical and other healthcare services including arthroscopic surgeries.” (That’s using a camera inserted through a tiny hole to check out joint damage).
His attorney, Daniel Thwaites, slammed the filing as a “blanket, scattershot, meritless lawsuit by a near-bankrupt insurance carrier.”
The couple also hired power attorney Mark Geragos, who threatened to countersue for $5 million if ATIC did not issue an apology and withdraw its case against the doc.
Meanwhile, “The View” co-host blasted the lawsuit as “frivoulous” and accused the insurer in a statement to Page Six at the time of “harassing me and my family in a frantic attempt to not pay its bills.”
“Our family will not be intimidated and harassed. We remain unbowed,” she told us.
“Insurance companies like American Transit make an already broken healthcare system nearly impossible for Americans to navigate and get good healthcare by engaging in despicable tactics like harassing doctors,” she added.
“Let me be clear, where I come from, American Transit will receive a PHD from FAFO University,” Sunny said. (That’s “‘F’ Around and Find Out,” for those not in the habit of pissing off Sunny).
Lesson learned!
Geragos told us, “In what can be described as a blatant attempt to weaponize Sunny Hostin’s celebrity [American Transit] tried to leverage a settlement. Dr. Hostin and Sunny refused to fold. They fought back.”,
He added, “Dr. Hostin, Sunny Hostin, and their family have been fully vindicated. It is an honor to represent the family.”
