New Jersey Bar To Hold Program On New Jersey False Claims Act

      

          [Image: "Trenton Makes -  The World Takes," by Bob Jagendorf, July 4, 2005]

       Although this blog aims to cover "the intersection of alternative dispute resolution and healthcare law," it tends to focus on the ADR side of the street.  Permit me to briefly divert from that course to promote tomorrow night's program of the Health & Hospital Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association on the "new" New Jersey False Claims Act.  The program will be held at the NJSBA's Law Center in New Brunswick, with dinner starting at 6:00 p.m. (Thursday, September 25th).

       Entitled "New Jersey False Claims Act: Risk for Providers; Opportunities for Whistleblowers," the program will feature Assistant Attorney General John Krayniak, who heads New Jersey's Medicaid fraud prosecution section, Marc Raspanti, a noted whistleblower's attorney, and Linda Eynon, in-house counsel for Horizon New Jersey Health, a Medicaid/NJ Family Care managed care organization.  These panelists are expected to amplify their discussion of the law with extensive lessons drawn from their personal "war stories."

       This program is a must for healthcare lawyers practicing in New Jersey.  For those interested in the ADR angle, I plan to raise the potential use of ADR in this setting for discussion by the panelists.  It is worth noting that the AHLA is devoting an entire break-out session at their upcoming Fraud and Compliance Forum in Baltimore to "Negotiating the Resolution of Healthcare Fraud Allegations."  The aforementioned Marc Raspanti is a scheduled panelist at that session as well.  I guess I just can't resist wandering over to the ADR side of the street.

Welcome John DeGroote - Settlement Perspectives Blog!

       

       [Image: White Stork - welcoming the newly arrived, by Manfred Heyde, June 19, 2007]

     The dispute resolution blogosphere grew stronger recently with the launching of "Settlement Perspectives," by John DeGroote.  Let me join fellow bloggers Nancy Hudgins ("Civil Negotiation and Mediation"), Diane Levin ("Mediation Channel.com") and Christopher Annunziata ("CKA Mediation & Arbitration") in welcoming John to the dialogue.  He has already demonstrated a grasp of the settlement process and human nature that makes his blog well worth reading.  And his writing style and blog design are terrific. Along with the blogs just mentioned and those of Victoria Pynchon ("Settle It Now Negotiation Blog") and Geoff Sharp ("mediator blah...blah..."), he has become a regular read from my newsfeeder.  Last but not least, I note that John is a fellow Duke Law grad - with basketball season just around the corner, I'll be hoping for some Blue Devil inspired perspectives.

     If you negotiate and settle disputes, whether as a party, counsel or neutral, check it out!