ST. LOUIS — A Marion County dermatologist employed by Quincy Physicians & Surgeons Clinic, S.C. claims the business incorrectly calculated the billing of her patients, resulting in losses over a five-year period of between $850,000 and $4.25 million.
Linda Cooke and Lindan originally filed suit at Marion County Circuit Court in Hannibal, but the case was removed to federal court on Nov. 2.
According to the suit, Cook is one of the principals of Lindan, from which she leased office space. She was approached by the defendant in 2010 with a request that she transfer her practice from an individual practice to a practice wherein she would remain in place in the same office building operating with the same name and identity but as an employee.
"That Defendant's stated goal was to obtain the benefits of the labor of Plaintiff Linda Cooke," the suit states.
It goes on to state that the defendant made various promises, including a provision that the lease would terminate if and when she left Quincy Medical Group.
"That such promise was made as an inducement to get Plaintiffs to sign the relevant documents," the suit states.
She claims that when she signed an employment agreement, she specified that it was signed subject to assurances from Quincy Medical Group.
"That when the final lease was drafted by Defendants several months later, in fact, Defendant did not include such provisions in the lease agreement," the suit states.
"That the purported employment agreement is void for failure of a condition precedent. That as such a provision was not included in the final lease that such representations were therefore in fact false."
She further alleges the defendant made errors in calculating bills to her patients,
"That the amount of difference between the correct calculations and the incorrect calculations was as much as $800,000 per year," the suit states.
Cooke is represented by James F. Lemon of Hannibal.