Piercing the Corporate Veil and Alter Ego Claims in Healthcare

Plaintiff attorneys in healthcare litigation are using piercing the corporate veil and alter ego claims more and more often to get to deeper pockets in litigation. Like litigants in other business disputes, those in healthcare disputes look beyond the corporation to related entities as potential sources of liability and recovery. A plaintiff's success with this approach, known as "piercing the corporate veil," hinges on whether the corporation engaged in wrongful behavior, failed to follow corporate formalities, was inadequately capitalized, or exercised an inappropriate degree of control over the related entity.

Further, owners of healthcare companies may see ZPIC and MAC contractors seeking to pierce the corporate veil to collect overpayments. If the circumstances are right, owners may be held personally liable for their companies' debts to the CMS.

Listen as our authoritative panel of healthcare counsel discusses how piercing the corporate veil and alter ego claims apply in healthcare industry cases. The panel will also guide healthcare counsel on issues to consider and how to structure corporate entities and joint ventures to manage alter ego claims better in the future.

1. Latest trends on piercing the corporate veil and alter ego claims in healthcare
2. Corporate issues unique to healthcare
3. Structuring corporate entities and JVs to minimize the risk of piercing the corporate veil or alter ego claims

The panel will review these and other key issues:

• How are litigants in healthcare disputes using piercing the corporate veil or alter ego claims to recover damages?
• What factors do courts look at in applying the piercing the corporate veil doctrine?
• What are some key considerations and best practices when structuring healthcare entities to protect against piercing the corporate veil or alter ego claims?