Ex-Patient Sues "Suboxone for Cash" Opioid Treatment Clinic

PITTSBURGH - EntSun -- Alan Perer and C.J. Engel, attorneys at SPK- Swensen & Perer, just filed a lawsuit on behalf of James Reiland against Jennifer Hess, Christopher Handa, Madhu Aggarwal, M.D. and Redirections Associates Treatment Advocates, LLC, an opioid addiction treatment clinic.

In 2018, the defendants were indicted by Federal authorities for numerous charges related to the illegal distribution of the opioid addiction treatment drug Suboxone for cash without medical oversight or actual treatment.  In 2019, Hess, Handa and Aggarwal pled guilty to those charges in Federal court.

The plaintiff, James Reiland, was a patient at the clinic between November 2013 and June 2016. The complaint outlines the flagrant violations of professional standards that Reiland was subjected to, including the falsified prescription of Suboxone by non-medical staff using Dr. Aggarwal's signature.

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Because the purported "treatment" Reiland underwent did not involve any on-going physician oversight, medical assessment or diagnosis, counseling or dose monitoring, Reiland's addiction severely worsened, to the point he considered suicide.

In the course of his almost two year reliance on Redirections Associates,

Reiland lost his career, his home, and his family. Since leaving Redirections, Reiland received professional help, got clean, and has begun to repair his life and that of his family, and others in recovery.

Defendant Jennifer Hess was and is the owner of Redirections Associates Treatment Advocates. In May 2019, she pled guilty to charges of unlawful distribution of Suboxone and health care fraud at 18-CR-00142 of the Western District of Pennsylvania

Defendant Christopher Hanna was operations manager at Redirections Associates Treatment Advocates. In June 2018, Handa pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and health care fraud at 18-CR-00079 of the Western District of Pennsylvania.

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Defendant Dr Madhu Aggarwal was a physician at Redirections Associates Treatment Advocates at the Bridgeville PA office. In July 2018, she pled guilty to charges of unlawful distribution of Suboxone, conspiracy, and health care fraud at 18-CR-00111 of the Western District of Pennsylvania. The complaint claims a separate professional liability action against Aggarwal and a Certificate of Merit is also attached to the complaint.

The complaint contains five counts and asks for both compensatory and punitive damages.

FILED IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 11-7-19 Case No:GD-19-007282

Alan Perer and C.J. Engel are attorneys at SPK-The Law Firm of Swensen & Perer in Pittsburgh, PA. SPK has represented a large number of victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with over 40 years of experience in civil litigation Wrongs Righted ®