United States of America v. Diagnostic Physicians Group, P.C. et al

MOTION to Dismiss Relator's Third Amended Complaint

S.D. Ala.December 30, 2013

4848-2326-0694.1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel. Christian M. Heesch, Plaintiff, v. DIAGNOSTIC PHYSICIANS GROUP, P.C.; IMC - DIAGNOSTIC AND MEDICAL CLINIC, P.C.; INFIRMARY MEDICAL CLINICS, P.C.; and INFIRMARY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. 11-364-KD-B Oral Argument Requested INFIRMARY DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS RELATOR’S THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT Defendants IMC - Diagnostic and Medical Clinic, P.C. (“DMC”), Infirmary Medical Clinics, P.C. (“IMC”), and Infirmary Health System, Inc. (“IHS”) (collectively, the “Infirmary Defendants”) hereby move the Court pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) to dismiss the Relator’s Third Amended Complaint (Doc. 66) as to the Infirmary Defendants because the Infirmary Defendants are not proper defendants in the Relator’s action against his employer for retaliation and wrongful discharge. The Relator failed to meet the minimum pleading requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 as to any Infirmary Defendant. The Relator does not allege that he was an employee, agent, or contractor of any Infirmary Defendant. He also does not identify any retaliatory behavior by any Infirmary Defendant, much less retaliatory behavior “because of” any protected activity by the Relator. The Infirmary Defendants did not (and do not) even have the capacity to discriminate against the Relator in the terms and conditions of his employment, nor the capacity to provide the relief he requests and that provided by statute. Case 1:11-cv-00364-KD-B Document 82 Filed 12/30/13 Page 1 of 4 2 4848-2326-0694.1 This motion is supported by an accompanying Brief in Support of Infirmary Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Relator’s Third Amended Complaint. The Infirmary Defendants request oral argument pursuant to Local Rule 7.3 if the Court believes oral argument would assist in the disposition of this motion. Case 1:11-cv-00364-KD-B Document 82 Filed 12/30/13 Page 2 of 4 3 4848-2326-0694.1 Dated: December 30, 2013 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Caine O’Rear III Caine O’Rear III (OREAC6985) Windy Cockrell Bitzer, (BITZW7315) Hand Arendall LLC P. O. Box 123 Mobile, AL 36601 Telephone: 251.432.5511 Facsimile: 251.694.6375 corear@handarendall.com wbitzer@handarendall.com Michael P. Matthews (admitted pro hac vice) Foley & Lardner LLP 100 North Tampa Street, Suite 2700 Tampa, Florida 33602-5810 Telephone: 813.225.4131 Facsimile: 813.221.4210 mmatthews@foley.com Lisa M. Noller (admitted pro hac vice) Foley & Lardner LLP 321 North Clark Street, Suite 2800 Chicago, Illinois 60654-5313 Telephone: 312.832.4363 Facsimile: 312.832.4700 lnoller@foley.com Heidi A. Sorensen (admitted pro hac vice) Foley & Lardner LLP 3000 K Street, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20007-5109 Telephone: 202.672.5596 Facsimile: 202.672.5399 hsorensen@foley.com Attorneys for Defendants IMC - Diagnostic and Medical Clinic, P.C., IMC - Northside Clinic, P.C., Infirmary Medical Clinics, P.C., and Infirmary Health System, Inc. Case 1:11-cv-00364-KD-B Document 82 Filed 12/30/13 Page 3 of 4 4 4848-2326-0694.1 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on December 30, 2013, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send notification of such to all counsel of record. Dated: December 30, 2013 /s/ Caine O'Rear III Caine O'Rear III Case 1:11-cv-00364-KD-B Document 82 Filed 12/30/13 Page 4 of 4