An emergency medicine practice has filed suit against a Ventura County woman, who they accuse of launching an extensive "vindictive" online campaign of deception to destroy their reputation amid a dispute over the woman's medical bills.
In the lawsuit, Los Robles Emergency Physicians Medical Group states that Carrie L. Stanford-Franz had a "malicious and vindictive scheme" to "confuse the public, disrupt Los Robles’ business, and destroy Dr. Richard Benedon’s personal and professional reputation," because of the alleged incorrect billing.
Stanford-Franz allegedly "created multiple business entities, filed a business license, and filed a fictitious business name with the exact same name as Los Robles," says the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She then allegedly changed the mailing address of the Los Robles practice with the U.S. Postal Service and allegedly "diverted and received checks intended for Los Robles and then indicated she would cash at least one of those checks," the suit said.
She allegedly changed the address on the practice's bank account and allegedly "defamed Dr. Benedon by writing to third parties in the medical field that he
may be addicted to controlled substances and is self-medicating."
The suit seeks an injunction against Stanford-Franz, plus damages and attorney fees.
Los Robles is represented by attorneys Jordan Susman and Margo Arnold, of Nolan Heimann LLP, of Encino.
Los Robles Emergency Physicians Medical Group v. Carrie L. Stanford-Franz, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2:23-cv-09487