Opinion ID: 729223
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion for Partial Acquittal Regarding Count 11

Text: 30 Count 11 of the indictment alleges that defendant caused a check to be delivered to his office by mail containing a payment from Jardine, a dental insurance company, in the amount of $428.00 for services he performed for his patient Linda Davis. Defendant notes that no testimony was produced at trial from Jardine indicating that the check mentioned in Count 11 was sent by mail, or issued at all. Thus, defendant contends there is no proof that the mails were used with respect to Count 11. Defendant also claims that because no one explained the discrepancy in the amount alleged in Count 11 and the amount appearing on the face of the check in Exhibit 40(c), $422.30, there was no proof that the billing was fraudulent. 31 The patient who was mentioned in Count 11, Linda Davis, was also mentioned in Counts 8-10. On September 26, 1989, defendant performed an apicoectomy and soft-tissue biopsy on Davis. Davis's patient records indicate that defendant mailed out 7 separate claims relating to her visit, including two to Jardine. Ms. Davis testified that Jardine had been her husband's insurer at that time. Furthermore, Dr. Austin testified that the multiple billings arising out of the single medical procedure performed on September 26, 1989, were improper multiple billings. Also, defendant's billing clerk at the time, Beth Forfinski, testified that defendant's insurance billings were sent out by mail. 32 Based on this evidence, we hold that a rational trier of fact could conclude that it was beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant had billed Jardine through the mails, and that such billing was improper. 33