Clinic Says Patient Billing Dispute Led to Infringement Campaign

A medical group in Ventura County, Calif., filed a federal lawsuit alleging a parent of a former patient launched a copycat website in retaliation for a billing dispute in violation of trademark and cybersquatting laws and allegedly committed additional infringing and illegal actions.

Los Robles Emergency Physicians Medical Group and Dr. Richard Benedon allege that Carrie L. Stanford-Franz set out “to confuse the public, disrupt Los Robles’ business, and destroy Dr. Benedon’s personal and professional reputation—all because Defendant believes she was incorrectly billed for services provided by Los Robles,” according to the complaint filed in the US District Court for ...