Robert Layton has focused his practice for the past many years on the healthcare industry, representing some of the nation's largest hospital systems and health providers. He has litigated numerous cases for health providers, and provides them with guidance on state and federal regulation. He also guides them through transactions and financings.

Mr. Layton's clients have included medical groups, independent practice associations, medical tourism companies, laboratories, medical device companies and Medicare health plans.

He also counsels investment advisors and hedge funds on matters involving their investment activities.

In the regulatory area, Robert was heavily involved in the creation of the largest provider-owned Medicare HMO in the country in record time for licensing in the state of California and certification (contracting with the Medicare Administration). He has responded to multiple regulatory claims and investigations from Medicare (CMS and OIG) and the state (Department of Public Health).

Representative experience:

• National representation of National Medical Enterprises (now Tenet Healthcare Corporation) in a class-type action involving charges of a bogus hospital surgical program.
• Defense of a prominent medical group against an anonymous, underground citizen group claiming rampant fraud and embezzlement in a hospital system. Case dismissed.
• Defense of a hospital/medical group joint venture against whistleblower action by a former board member alleging fraud and misuse of charitable funds. Dismissed on summary judgment.
• Litigation of dissolution of a hospital/medical group joint venture.
• Multiple health plan defenses for Cigna Insurance.
• Multiple jury trials and arbitrations in dense of professional liability claims.
• Multiple initiatives on behalf of the second largest hospital system in the United States against multiple payors.
• Prosecution and defense of hospital/physician joint venture dissolutions, including separation of real estate holdings.
• Representation of a Los Angeles area hospital in an investigation and subsequent litigation in response to patient dumping allegations.