Owner of health agency sues former employees
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
The embattled owner of a shuttered Gonzales home health-care company claims three now-former workers entrusted to run the business while she battled cancer stole proprietary information and then pilfered her clients after going to work for a rival Baton Rouge firm.
Easy Care Inc. owner Joe Ann Simmons, who was arrested three months ago in a Medicaid fraud investigation, is seeking an unspecified amount of damages in a state court lawsuit from the ex-employees and Comfort of My Home Healthcare Services on North Lobdell Boulevard.
Simmons, 46, contends Comfort of My Home illegally profited from information allegedly stolen by former Easy Care office manager Lakeshia Bell and ex-Easy Care supervisors Kenneth Richard and Wanda Thompson.
Comfort of My Home owner Myrtle Battley on Thursday called Simmons’ allegations “bogus.’’
“I have no idea what she is talking about. I don’t know her. I don’t know her agency. I don’t know any of her employees. These people have never worked for me,’’ Battley said.
Simmons’ attorney, Keelus Miles, said Simmons vehemently denies the Medicaid fraud allegations against her and added that the actions of Bell, Richard and Thompson are the root cause of Simmons’ legal problems.
Simmons’ suit, filed Nov. 10 in Baton Rouge, says Bell was fired from Easy Care on June 8 for insubordination; Richard was terminated Aug. 11 for inappropriate work ethics; and Thompson resigned Aug. 27.
Simmons was arrested Aug. 24 on five counts of Medicaid fraud. The state Attorney General’s Office charged her last month with nine counts of Medicaid fraud. She pleaded not guilty Nov. 9.
The following day, Simmons sued Richard, Bell, Thompson and Comfort of My Home.
The suit claims Richard, Bell and Thompson — each of whom were “privy to sensitive information crucial to the success of Easy Care Inc.’’ — were hired by Comfort of My Home and “began an active effort to both slander (Simmons) by misrepresentation and pilfer the clients and workers of Easy Care for the economic benefit of Comfort of My Home.’’
Battley contends Simmons and her attorney failed to do their homework.
“For her to name me, I feel like they did sloppy work,’’ Battley said. “I’m insulted I have to go through any of this.’’
Simmons’ suit has been assigned to state District Judge Mike Caldwell.
Click "Report Abuse" to notify our moderators that a comment may contain objectionable content.
Your comment appears to contain objectionable content and must be reviewed by a site moderator. If your comment is deemed objectionable, it will not appear on the site.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
