Virginia Employment Law, led by attorney Thomas E. Strelka, represents Dr. Michele Hollis, a Hanover County emergency physician, in a $15 million whistleblower lawsuit against two emergency department staffing companies owned by a Canadian private equity group. Dr. Hollis alleges she was removed from hospital schedules in retaliation for refusing to engage in fraudulent billing practices and for reporting misuse of federal funds.

Her case, filed under Virginia’s Whistleblower Protection Act, highlights growing concerns about private equity’s influence over emergency medicine, where staffing companies—not hospitals—employ physicians. Dr. Hollis contends that profit-driven management pressured her to upcode services and prescribe expensive, unnecessary medications, compromising patient care.

In a significant ruling, the Virginia Court of Appeals allowed her case to proceed despite defense arguments over filing deadlines, paving the way for a jury trial. This litigation underscores Virginia Employment Law’s commitment to protecting medical professionals who risk their careers to uphold ethical standards and safeguard patient safety.

An article on the case may be read HERE.