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How Lawyers Appeal Healthcare Fraud Convictions and Sentences

March 21, 2024 Uncategorized

How Lawyers Appeal Healthcare Fraud Convictions and Sentences

Being convicted of healthcare fraud can have devastating consequences for medical professionals. You may face hefty fines, loss of your professional license, damage to your reputation, and even prison time. However, with the right legal help, you may be able to get your conviction overturned on appeal. Here’s an overview of how lawyers appeal healthcare fraud convictions and sentences:

Grounds for Appealing a Healthcare Fraud Conviction

There are several potential grounds for appealing a healthcare fraud conviction, including:

  • Procedural errors – Mistakes made during the trial, such as improperly admitted evidence, incorrect jury instructions, prosecutorial misconduct, etc. Your lawyer will review the trial record to identify any errors that could justify overturning the conviction.
  • Insufficient evidence – If the prosecution didn’t present enough evidence to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the conviction could potentially be overturned for lack of evidence. Your lawyer will argue the evidence presented doesn’t support the charges.
  • Incorrect application of the law – The judge may have made an error in interpreting or applying the relevant healthcare fraud laws and statutes. Your lawyer can argue the conviction was based on an incorrect understanding of the law.
  • Ineffective assistance of counsel – If your trial lawyer made serious mistakes or failed to properly defend you, this could justify overturning your conviction. Your appeals lawyer can argue your right to effective counsel was violated.
  • Unfair sentence – Even if the conviction stands, your lawyer may be able to get your sentence reduced by appealing the length or severity of the punishment. This requires showing the sentence was excessive or improperly calculated.

The Criminal Appeals Process

Here are the key steps involved in appealing a criminal healthcare fraud conviction:

  • Notice of appeal – This must be filed within 14 days of the conviction being entered. The notice of appeal triggers the appeals process and notifies the court you intend to challenge the conviction and/or sentence.
  • Designation of record – Your lawyer will designate portions of the trial record that need to be forwarded to the appeals court. This includes transcripts, motions, court orders, etc.
  • Appellant brief – This legal brief lays out the arguments for overturning your conviction and the supporting facts/evidence from the trial record. Expect lots of case law citations and legal terminology.
  • Appellee brief – The prosecution will file a response brief countering your arguments and defending the validity of the conviction.
  • Oral arguments – Your lawyer may have the opportunity to appear before a panel of appeals court judges to argue the case. This offers a final chance to persuade the judges.
  • Appeals court ruling – The judges will issue a written ruling deciding whether to uphold or overturn your conviction. If overturned, the case often gets sent back for a new trial.

Sentencing Appeals Issues

In addition to the conviction itself, your lawyer can raise issues related to your sentence, such as:

  • Miscalculation of guidelines – Showing the judge used the wrong sentencing guidelines or miscalculated the recommended range.
  • Failure to justify departure – If the sentence imposed was outside the guidelines range, arguing the judge didn’t adequately explain why.
  • Procedural errors – Mistakes in how the sentencing hearing was conducted, like failing to verify facts or address your arguments.
  • Excessiveness – Your lawyer can argue the sentence imposed was disproportionate to the offense and should be reduced.
  • Health considerations – Presenting health reasons (age, illness, disability) that warrant a lower sentence.

Working with a Healthcare Fraud Appeals Lawyer

Navigating the criminal appeals process requires specialized legal skills. An experienced appeals lawyer can maximize your chances of success. Here’s how a lawyer can help:

  • Act quickly – They’ll file the notice of appeal within the short deadline to get the process started.
  • Thoroughly review – They’ll order trial transcripts and scrutinize the record to identify potential appeal issues.
  • Research case law – They’ll find relevant cases and statutes to support arguments overturning your conviction or reducing your sentence.
  • Draft a persuasive brief – They’ll present air-tight legal arguments citing all appropriate case law and trial evidence.
  • Handle oral arguments – An experienced litigator, they can handle questions from appeals judges and present arguments in the best light.
  • Negotiate with prosecutors – If the appeal looks unpromising, they may negotiate with the prosecution to reduce charges or sentencing in return for dropping the appeal.

The Bottom Line

Getting a healthcare fraud conviction overturned on appeal is certainly an uphill battle. But with so much at stake, it’s important to explore every option. An experienced criminal appeals lawyer can review your case and determine if grounds for an appeal exist. They also know how to craft the strongest arguments to give you the best shot at success. With skilled legal guidance, many healthcare professionals have managed to overturn or reduce fraud convictions. So don’t assume all hope is lost – consult an attorney about appealing your case today.

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Todd Spodek

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CLAIRE BANKS

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RAJESH BARUA

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CHAD LEWIN

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