CLIENT VICTORIES
CRIMINAL DEFENSE: AVOIDING CONVICTIONS, AVOIDING JAIL
Physician’s Conviction Expunged: A highly regarded physician was convicted of stalking a former boyfriend. She had pled guilty and was placed on probation, but her conviction was wreaking havoc on her hospital privileges and she came to Jim Burdick for help. He successfully petitioned the Court to remove that conviction from her record, and her problems with privileges disappeared.
Defendant Avoids Prosecution and Certain Conviction: A man was charged with aiding the escape of an inmate at the County Jail by switching IDs with him. (This client was in the jail because of a fight with his step-father.) He was facing very serious charges, but by working with a very decent Assistant United States Attorney, Jim Burdick was able to avoid any criminal conviction. Instead, he won a pre-trial diversion for his client by demonstrating to the government the defendant’s f extensive psychological history and emotional issues as the cause of his conduct.
Drug Conspiracy Sentence Halved: Facing more than eight years in prison, Jim Burdick won a sentence of less than four years through his relentless efforts at pleading his client’s case, his horrible childhood and his difficult life. He convinced the judge to give his client this substantial reduction with an extensive sentencing memorandum and vigorous argument at sentencing.
Surgeon’s 4-Year Sentence Reduced to Half-Way House: This client, a physician, was badly injured from a fall. He was prescribed large amounts of opiates for the pain and became addicted, and he started ordering opiates delivered to his home. The government had no evidence that he had diverted any, but the amounts he obtained figured out to 80 or more pills per day and his original lawyer failed to seek an expert witness to disprove the government’s claim that “no one could consume that much and not die.” Burdick Law’s expert witnesses proved that such consumption was not only possible, but not unusual. Jim Burdick also discovered an expert witness who the government agents had interviewed and who told them that 80 pills a day would not lead to death. The agents had suppressed that information.
Psychologist Saved from Criminal Prosecution: A hardworking and sincere psychologist was accused of healthcare fraud and theft of government funds, but because of Jim Burdick’s efforts the government agreed not to prosecute, accepting Burdick’s arguments that there had been no violations and that, therefore, there should not be any prosecution.
Medicare Fraud Trial — Convicted but No Jail: After a trial of several weeks in federal court, every defendant was convicted and sentenced to prison for up to 17 years — except Jim Burdick’s client, the only one to receive straight probation. (Her appeal is pending and she will be exonerated.)
Victory in Prescription Fraud Conspiracy Case: This client, a physician, was one of eight individuals indicted in a prescription drug conspiracy. He was facing a virtual life sentence given his age and the 300,000 Oxycontin pills he prescribed without objective testing. Through Jim Burdick’s efforts to find a path to avoid prison, this physician was permitted to enter a pre-trial diversion program. After 15 months of probation, all charges will be dismissed, while the other defendants were sentenced to as much as 8 years in prison.
Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy — Dismissal: Despite a 20-month investigation and conviction of all the other defendants in a Medicare fraud conspiracy, Jim Burdick obtained a dismissal of all charges against his client.
Medicare Conspiracy — Avoiding Indictment: Jim Burdick was able to convince federal prosecutors in an Eastern seaboard state not to indict his client who owned a chain of therapy clinics, despite some hard-to-explain billing activities. Jim Burdick explained them well enough to avoid charges for his client.
Healthcare Conspiracy — No Jail: Two brothers were the targets of State and federal investigations into Medicaid and Medicare fraud involving millions of dollars. Jim Burdick saved one from being charged at all, and he worked out a reduced plea for the other so that he could receive probation instead of 10 years in prison.
Medicare Fraud Conspiracy — Avoiding Years in Prison: A social worker was accused of defrauding the Medicare Trust Fund of nearly $800,000. Through Jim Burdick’s persistence and hard work, he was able to get her certain three-year sentence reduced to only six-months.
Blue Cross Fraud — All Charges Dismissed: A key employee of a large medical clinic was charged with submitting false billings to Blue Cross. After weeks of a probable cause hearing, Jim Burdick succeeded in getting the judge to dismiss all charges. He then successfully sued Blue Cross for $650,000 in losses suffered by the clinic.
Interstate Narcotics Conspiracy — Acquittal: In a highly-charged drug conspiracy trial, despite photos of the defendant walking in a California Post Office line, while taping together a package later found to contain a huge quantity of narcotics. Even though all of the other defendants pled guilty, Jim Burdick was able to win an outright acquittal for her by proving that federal agents had lied during their trial testimony.
Interstate Narcotics Conspiracy — Acquittal: A client of Jim Burdick’s was indicted for cocaine distribution conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and all of his property accumulated over a lifetime was seized by the government. Mr. Burdick was able to achieve an agreement with the federal government by which most of the client’s real estate and hundreds of thousands of dollars were returned. Mr. Burdick also obtained an agreement with the government for dismissal of all of the criminal charges. Instead, the government agreed with Mr. Burdick to impose a one-year “diversion” with no criminal conviction, no “probation” or fine, and no criminal record at all.
Narcotics and Money Laundering Conspiracy — Case Dismissed: After a hard-fought, high-profile drug conspiracy trial in Kansas Federal Court, the defendant’s conviction was reversed on appeal and the charges were dismissed when the United States Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge should have granted Jim’s motion to dismiss in the first place. All charges were dropped.
Money Laundering — Avoiding Indictment: A federal grand jury and federal agents were in hot pursuit of two real estate executives in a southern state because of their purchases and sales of real estate for an accused drug “kingpin.” Jim Burdick’s effective representation of these men resulted in the government’s agreement not to prosecute either of them.
Police Corruption Conspiracy — Acquittal: The only police officer defendant in a 15-defendant corruption conspiracy proceeding to be acquitted of charges after a lengthy and contentious trial was Jim Burdick’s client. He is still in law enforcement today because his innocence was proven.
Counterfeiting Conspiracy — Avoiding Indictment: A young man caught by security cameras passing a great deal of counterfeit U.S. Currency was saved from criminal charges because of Jim Burdick’s impassioned pleas on his client’s behalf. He is a productive citizen today with no further bumps in his road.
Mortgage Fraud — Avoiding Indictment: An otherwise law-abiding building contractor had become deeply enmeshed in someone else’s mortgage fraud scheme, defrauding banks of millions, but Jim Burdick kept him from having any criminal charges brought against him.
A Client Saved from Conviction: A man came to Jim Burdick for help after he had been indicted in a 44-defendant drug conspiracy involving a notorious biker gang. The client had previously been addicted to prescription painkillers and had bought some from one of the defendants several times five years before the indictment. Instead of facing prison time himself, Jim Burdick was able to convince the federal prosecutors that the client was a former addict, not a conspirator, and he was placed on pre-trial diversion instead of facing a massive trial with a long prison sentence if convicted.
High-Profile Conspiracy — Avoiding Indictment: It was Jim Burdick who successfully represented the chief suspect in the tragic kidnapping and murder of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa. Though his client was innocent, public and media hysteria pushed federal investigators to find a scapegoat. An otherwise deadly series of coincidences and misunderstandings propelled very aggressive F.B.I. investigators who, because of the intense media scrutiny and enormous public pressure, were intent on bringing charges against his client for a murder he didn’t commit. Jim’s steadfast representation made the government back off and not indict.
Tax Fraud — Avoiding Indictment: A major Michigan business was being vigorously pursued because of allegations of tax fraud, and Jim Burdick represented one of the employees. Even though the attorney representing senior corporate officers had antagonized all the government officials, it was Jim who was able to bring calm to the situation and convince both the Internal Revenue Service and the government lawyers that no criminal charges could be sustained. This saved the company from certain financial collapse just from being indicted. The media scrutiny attendant to such charges alone would have ruined the company’s business.
Racketeering Conspiracy — Acquittal: In a three-week long trial in federal court, Jim Burdick’s client faced a vigorous prosecution, a turncoat witness and 13 separate and highly inflammatory recorded conversations in which the client all but confessed to conducting a high-interest (4 percent per week!) loan sharking operation. Jim was still able to win an acquittal on all nine counts, conviction of any one of which would have sent his client to federal prison for 10 years or more.
Medicare Kickback Scheme — Avoiding Prison: Jim Burdick was able to save a client from a certain prison sentence despite the client’s admission of responsibility in a Medicare kickback scheme involving $1 million improperly charged to Medicare. This client, because of Jim Burdick’s expertise and relentlessness, was able to avoid the fate of others in the case who had been sentenced to Federal prison.
Explosives — Avoiding Conviction: The State wanted a 20-year conviction for a young man charged with using and possession of explosives. Jim Burdick succeeded in getting the judge to take a “plea under advisement,” then dismissing all eight charges.
Embezzlement — No Prison: An in-house company bookkeeper admitted to embezzling more than $1 million from her employers. She turned to Jim Burdick for help, and he successfully avoided all prison time for her.
Narcotics Diversion — Case Dismissed: A pharmacist was accused of diverting huge numbers of narcotics. Jim Burdick got the criminal charges dismissed.
Narcotics Diversion — Case Dismissed: A dental surgeon had been diverting narcotics to feed his own addiction. He was arrested at a drugstore while filling a phony prescription he had written. By convincing the authorities that this was an addiction, not criminal, Jim Burdick won a short probation for his client with all charges dropped after a year.
Narcotics Diversion — Avoiding Conviction: A physician in charge of a large hospital’s emergency room had been writing himself dozens of prescriptions for narcotics. When he was caught, Jim Burdick convinced the authorities that he had an addiction, and that a short probationary period, with an in-patient recovery program, was the better answer than prison and loss of his license. His probation lasted a year, and the charges were all dropped.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: A highly regarded physician was wrongfully accused of sexually assaulting a patient. Using his expertise and diligence, Jim Burdick convinced the prosecution not to bring any criminal charges. Mr. Burdick was also able to convince the State not to bring licensing disciplinary action. This physician is still working.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: A young man accused of date-rape after a night of voluntary relations saw all his charges dismissed by the prosecution because of Jim Burdick’s diligence and hard work to prove his innocence.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: A licensed pharmacist “confessed” to stealing $10,000 in drugs, but Jim Burdick got the criminal charges of embezzlement dismissed (and avoided any license sanctions) by proving the confession was false and had been coerced.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: Another doctor was falsely accused of molesting patients; Jim Burdick’s efforts kept him from even being charged with a crime by convincing the prosecutors that the patients’ claims were lies.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: A well-regarded psychiatrist was falsely accused by a patient of molesting her. Jim Burdick’s diligence convinced the authorities not to prosecute and not to file discipline charges.
Successfully Fighting False Charges: A school athletic coach was falsely accused of sexually assaulting one of his students. Jim Burdick’s persistence and extensive research proved that the student had made up the whole thing. All the charges were dropped, and now that coach is back doing what he does best — helping young people through athletics, instead of facing 20 years in prison.
Criminal Sex Assault — Avoiding Charges: A well-regarded psychologist was falsely accused of sexually molesting a patient, but it was Jim Burdick’s focus and force, despite a police detective’s intent to “bring down” this innocent man, that finally convinced the prosecutors to back away from the case and not file charges.
The “Basketbrawl” — Avoiding Jail: An NBA star involved in an infamous brawl at an NBA basketball game was saved from a jail sentence by Jim Burdick’s diligence.
Drunk Driving and Injury — Avoiding Jail: Another NBA star was involved in a serious injury-accident while driving drunk. Because of Jim Burdick’s intervention, he avoided all but a few days in a local jail, even though the judge is notorious for handing out 60-day sentences for all alcohol and driving convictions.
Murder — Avoiding Life in Prison: In the infamous Jenny Jones Murder Trial, only Jim’s steady hand and relentless pursuit of the truth saved his client from a First Degree Murder conviction, which would have brought an automatic life sentence with no hope of parole. Despite a taped confession to 911 operators and to police, Jim was able to convince the jury to return a verdict of a lesser offense, resulting in a sentence that will set his client free while he is still a young man.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: DISCIPLINE AND REINSTATEMENT
Nurse Saved from Licensing Action: A nurse was falsely accused by the nursing home where she worked of failing to report another nurse for negligence. Jim Burdick filed a 16-page detailed self-report, explaining how his client had done nothing wrong. Instead of an administrative complaint, the Nursing Board decided, based on that self-report, that this nurse had done nothing wrong. She was saved from the rigors and expense of defending an administrative complaint process because of the detailed and compelling self-report which exonerated her.
Nurse’s License Saved: A nurse turned to Jim Burdick when she received a complaint against her license for something that she did not do. After relentless pressure on the State and the Attorney General’s office, Jim was able to convince the AG to file a motion with the Nursing Board to ask them to dismiss the complaint entirely. She did, they agreed, and this nurse’s life is completely back on track.
Keeping a Nurse’s License: A registered nurse turned to Jim Burdick after she had been convicted by a guilty plea of drunk driving, resisting and obstructing a police officer, and assault on an officer. (Clearly she had been drinking heavily.) She was facing a long suspension of her license, but through Jim Burdick’s efforts, he was able to win a resolution providing for probation only and allowing her to continue practicing her profession uninterrupted.
Pharmacist’s License Limitations Lifted: A pharmacist whose license had been limited against owning a pharmacy (because of terrible record-keeping and mismanagement of a store he had opened “too early” in his short career) won elimination of those limitations through Jim Burdick’s convincing Application for Dissolving Limitation. The application was sufficiently compelling that the attorney general’s office did not even oppose it, and the Board agreed to lift the sanction.
Falsely Accused VA Nurse Saved from Licensing Action: A nurse working for the VA was falsely accused of failing to take proper action when a patient had died. She was saved from an administrative complaint and potential loss of her license by Jim Burdick’s extensive and detailed self-report. That report proved to the State’s satisfaction that, not only was this nurse innocent of the claims, but showed through eight supporting exhibits that this was an exemplary nurse who was nothing more than the VA’s scapegoat. Less than two months after receiving this self-report, the State stated in a letter that the facts — presented by Jim Burdick — showed there was no basis for the VA’s accusations.
Health Care Fraud Accusations Dismissed: A client of Jim Burdick’s was falsely accused of participating in a healthcare fraud conspiracy at a clinic where she had been a part-time receptionist. The government tried and tried to get her to plead guilty, but Jim Burdick insisted on a trial where he knew he could prove her innocence. Finally, on the eve of trial, the government agreed to dismiss all charges against her. Never backing down paid off again.
Doctor Saved from License Sanctions: A doctor was fired from a VA hospital in Oregon for alleged violations of patient protocols. Jim Burdick filed an extensive and compelling 111-page self-report to the Michigan Board of Medicine on the client’s behalf, demonstrating that this doctor had been falsely accused and showing that he was very highly regarded by his peers and patients. Five months after filing that document, the State of Michigan wrote to say that it was closing its file on the matter without pursuing any license action.
Reinstatement: A physician who had been convicted several years before of trading narcotics prescription for the promise of sexual favors had lost his license, but Jim Burdick got it reinstated for him after a long and contentious administrative law hearing, convincing the Board of Medicine that he should be re-licensed.
Reinstatement: Jim Burdick was able to obtain reinstatement of a psychologist’s license after she had been suspended for 18 months despite the fact that during her suspension two separate allegations of practicing without a license had been filed. Mr. Burdick was able to convince the State and the Psychology Board that she should still have her license reinstated, and it was.