Los Angeles Team Secures Defense Verdict for CRNA Partnership in Lawsuit over Former Partner's Removal

Los Angeles Team Secures Defense Verdict for CRNA Partnership in Lawsuit over Former Partner’s Removal

Los Angeles, Calif. (June 18, 2025) - Los Angeles Partner George Romain and Associate Fabiola Martinez, along with co-counsel from Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani and O’Hagan Meyer, secured a complete defense verdict for their client in a jury trial in Fresno Superior Court (Oracle Anesthesia, Inc., and John Juve v. Central Vallely Anesthesia Partners, Inc., et. al.)

The plaintiff filed the case alleging that he was wrongfully removed from a partnership of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) he formed, named Central Valley Anesthesia Partners (“CVAP”). The plaintiff was removed from the partnership, for cause, with the defendants’ contention being that he had defrauded CVAP of hundreds of thousands of dollars while working for a surgical center (“Comprehensive Pain Management Center”) with which CVAP had not contracted to provide services. CVAP had an exclusive contract to provide CRNA services to Community Hospital. Although the plaintiff had obtained CVAP’s and Community Hospital’s consent to work at Comprehensive Pain Management Center, with which he had a pre-existing contractual relationship, CVAP contended that the plaintiff was never permitted to render services to Comprehensive Pain Management Center on days he was scheduled to work at Community Hospital. In other words, it was CVAP’s contention that the plaintiff had been double billing the partnership for time he claims to have been working at Community Hospital when he was physically at Comprehensive Pain Management Center.

The plaintiff denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was wrongfully removed from the partnership, alleging the effort was led by Mr. Romain’s and Ms. Martinez’s client, in violation of the partnership agreement.

The plaintiff claimed that as a result of the alleged wrongful accusations and being wrongfully removed from the partnership, he was unable to find comparable work in the Central Valley. The plaintiff demanded lost wages, 20% value of the partnership, and punitive damages. At the time of trial, plaintiff’s demand was $3 million.

After six weeks of trial, the jury found that the plaintiff did not perform under the partnership agreement and that all defendants did not act in bad faith when removing plaintiff under the terms of CVAP’s partnership agreement.