The owner of a Charles Boulevard medical practice has filed a lawsuit against a former partner that alleges the doctor refused to abide by contract requirements and did not follow clinical protocols regarding controlled substances.
As first reported by WITN News, Quasar Family Medicine in late June filed a lawsuit in Pitt County Superior Court against Carolina East Family Medicine (CEFM), Dr. Charles Jahrsdorfer, his wife Doreen Jahrsdorfer and son Daniel Jahrsdorfer on grounds including fraud, breach of contract, indemnification, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, conversion, common law trademark infringement and civil conspiracy.
The lawsuit said that in December Quasar entered into an asset purchase agreement with CEFM and its owner, Charles Jahrsdorfer, but that the merger was a rocky one. The suit alleges that upon taking over CEFM’s assets Quasar owner Sean Feinberg discovered that Jahrsdorfer refilled controlled substances without regard for “prevailing” clinical protocols and the he overbilled third-party vendors for services he did not render.
The suit further alleged that rather than a “thriving family practice,” CEFM’s patients were predominately controlled substance users who found it easier to get a prescription filled at the practice. Quasar instituted practices that would require Charles Jahrsdorfer to check patients against a national registry and perform a test to screen out drug abusers. Revenues fell more than 30 percent.
The Jahrsdorfers have not responded to the accusations. Emily Massey, attorney for the defense, shared a statement on their behalf.
“Dr. Jahrsdorfer was terminated by Quasar Family Medicine while he was out for health-related reasons, and has since been sued by Quasar,” the statement read. “Because of that lawsuit, we cannot comment further except to state that Dr. Jahrsdorfer vehemently denies all of the allegations and will vigorously defend his rights against Quasar.”
The lawsuit has since been transferred to North Carolina Business Court.
Charles Jahrsdorfer remained on staff after the buyout but the lawsuit said that he and his wife undermined the new management by soliciting patients for a planned new practice. It said at one point he verbally attacked an assistant who told management he was soliciting patients, calling her “a Judas and snake.”
CEFM and the Jahrsdorfers also refused to turn over the practice’s social media accounts which were managed by Daniel Jahrsdorfer. It said that attempts to do so as required in the asset purchase agreement were met with resistance, even though Daniel Jahrsdorfer was an employee of CEFM. It indicated a Facebook page he managed targeted the CEFM and Quasar.
On June 14 the page stated it had not been associated with the practice for several months and that the page managers “deeply sympathize with the staff and patients who have known Dr. Charles Jahrsdorfer for many years.” The post invited patients to leave reviews on other social media accounts or Google Reviews, which the lawsuit said led to patients posting negative reviews.
On June 25, the lawsuit said, patients gathered in Quasar’s parking lot, banging on windows and asking to be let in. A message was also written on the front door of the practice and Quasar staff left the building out of concern for their safety, the lawsuit said.
On June 21, Quasar received a “cryptic message” from a local health care provider that said Charles Jahrsdorfer was out of work on account of medical reasons. It also said he sought a three month leave for short term disability. Jahrsdorfer was subsequently fired.
A prayer for relief in the lawsuit calls for the transfer of the practice’s Facebook page. It also calls for Jahrsdorfer to return and/or destroy any patient lists in his possession abide by the non-solicitation and non-compete agreements and for the court to prevent CEFM and the Jahrsdorfers from infringing on the brand’s trademark.
Quasar is also seeking cognizable and punitive damages.
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