Blood Money is the true legal thriller of a terrifying David vs. Goliath fight against massive healthcare fraud brought by a brave Whistleblower, at tremendous personal sacrifice and cost over many years.
One Man’s Bare-Knuckle Fight to Protect Taxpayers from Medical Lab Fraud By Chris Riedel
Chris Riedel never saw himself as a crusader. He lived the Silicon Valley dream, founding his first company at 24, then starting two others while he was still a young man. The first two companies revolutionized how bacterial infections were diagnosed and treated — saving hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. He retired early to enjoy raising his young sons with his wife Marcia.
Aware of the diminishing number of medical labs in Northern California, Marcia encouraged them to return to the business and they started Meris Laboratories — and that’s where the trouble began! In the decade since they left the business, two major behemoths, Quest and LabCorp, had assumed dominance in the industry, euphemistically referred to as the “Blood Brothers.”
After investing millions into the development of Meris, it became apparent that the “Blood Brothers” pursued predatory business practices that drove their competitors out of business, and at the same time illegally billed millions to Medicaid, while providing kickbacks to doctors and medical practices. Chris had a Sophie’s choice — join them and break the law, or fight them to stop the practice, level the playing field for other labs, and get back some of those millions for the taxpayers.
He chose the latter, filing what is called a Qui-tam, or Whistleblower lawsuit (also called the Lincoln Law, because that President signed it into law to prevent massive fraud by U.S. Army contractors during the Civil War). With a Qui-tam suit, the plaintiff sues on behalf of the taxpayer, and if the suit is won, is rewarded with up to 30% of the recovered monies and damages — to be shared, of course, with the attorneys. Nevertheless, it’s a major legal gamble because many of these cases go nowhere after huge time and money investment. But staying with them can ultimately catch and punish the lawbreakers — while restoring millions or even billions to the public till. And so, Chris stood up for justice!
But that’s where things get really interesting…Chris relates accounts of attempted murder, extortion, money-laundering, hidden money in the Caymen Islands, gold buried in a storage container in a CEO’s backyard, an assistant attorney general sabotaging her state’s case and a corrupt governor torpedoing litigation by his own attorney general.
Never realizing the headaches, heartaches, and the financially and emotionally crushing retaliatory actions that the” Blood Brothers” had in store, Chris refused to give in, even as the cases (they sued in several states beside CA) dragged on — to the point that Meris Labs could no longer sustain itself and the family savings was gone. And finally, while he and Marcia were on the edge of financial Armageddon, a landmark settlement for millions saved the day, and forced the end to those specific illegal practices. At the time, then California Attorney General Kamala Harris said: “This historic settlement affirms that Medi-Cal exists to help the state’s neediest families rather than illicitly line private pockets.”
With Meris Labs closed and his family now restored to financial sustainability, Chris traded his CEO role to focus more time as a Fraud Fighter. In addition to pursuing the lawsuits to their end in the other states, he has become a guide, consultant and supporting partner for other Whistleblowers who decide to file Qui-tam lawsuits to right the wrongs that cost taxpayers billions. One thing that is clear in Blood Money, One Man’s Bare-Knuckle Fight to Protect Taxpayers from Medical Lab Fraud, medical laboratory fraud is enormously widespread by ostensibly reputable companies throughout North America, and Chris could be kept busy the rest of his life fighting this pervasive taxpayer theft. His actions have already resulted in more than $550 million in settlements and a court verdict…and counting.
Author Philip La Croix, known for his gripping debut novel “The Best Laid Traps,” shares insights into his writing process, character development, and future aspirations. La Croix’s remarkable ability to overcome writer’s block and his unique experiences have contributed to the creation of captivating narratives that resonate with readers worldwide.
When it comes to finding ideas and developing characters, La Croix’s creative process is driven by random thoughts that pop into his head. Whether it be for a new story or a revelation in an existing one, these musings spark his imagination. La Croix describes the experience as being hypnotized, where he loses track of time, and the events unfold vividly in his mind. He believes that writing is more about observing and documenting these events rather than creating them from scratch. As the story progresses, characters take on a life of their own, and La Croix transitions from being the driver to a passenger on the speeding bullet train of storytelling.
Writer’s block can be a formidable challenge for any author, but La Croix tackles it head-on. He emphasizes the importance of pushing past the block instead of succumbing to the temptation of taking time off. Even if it means employing a temporary fix or going back to fix an area later, he believes it is crucial to keep the story moving forward. La Croix advises fellow writers to avoid waiting for a deus ex machina and to persevere in order to maintain the momentum and bring their stories to fruition.
La Croix’s writing journey is not confined to a specific type of character or book. Although he begins with a particular vision for his characters, he allows them to evolve organically. Sometimes, characters surprise him and deviate from his initial plans, ultimately playing pivotal roles in the narrative. As for the genre of his future works, La Croix demonstrates versatility and a willingness to explore various genres, ranging from action-adventure and dark fantasy to sci-fi and dramas. He even delved into writing a full-length fan-fiction novel based on characters from “The Hunger Games” universe, hoping to garner recognition or permission from Suzanne Collins herself.
Currently, La Croix is immersed in the creation of his latest novel, which reimagines L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” universe. Set years after the original story’s conclusion, the novel takes a darker turn, with Glinda trapping Dorothy in stasis while she battles a mysterious gloom that engulfs the land of Oz. Dorothy eventually breaks free and embarks on a journey to restore balance. With elements reminiscent of “Shutter Island,” this tale promises numerous unexpected twists and a mind-blowing conclusion.
Philip La Croix’s ability to overcome writer’s block, adapt to evolving characters, and explore diverse genres highlights his resilience and commitment to storytelling. As readers eagerly await his upcoming works, La Croix continues to captivate audiences with his imaginative narratives and the unbridled passion that drives his writing.
Stay Tuned for an interview Session with Author here on Studio Carry On Harry
I am a school student who was passionate about writing since childhood until the overwhelming passion turned me to an author from a writer. I also take keen interest in quizzing and martial arts.
Title Of Your New Release
The Evergreen Emotion
How much does your life reflects in your poetry ?
Well, I won’t insist on saying that all the poetries I write reflects my life but definitely some poems have a essence of my life.
What is the central Emotional theme of your poetry book ?
The central theme of my book is itself emotion especially the untold emotions which lie deep within us but we never exhibit in front of the world.
Any personal expressions of life behind the book ? Someone/Something that inspired
Yes there are quite a few poems which are totally inspired from my personal life.
Have you already started working on next book ? What is on your mind for it ?
Yes currently I am working on a book in my mind. Alike the previous book this book also aims to bring untold stories but in the form of a story and not a poem. The next book will also be embedded with some important values which would definitely add to reader’s interest. Though the story would be a fictional one but it would end up teaching some lesson and values like a non fictional book does. So I personally prefer calling my a fictionalized nonfiction.
Some Bits from book chapter you would like to share as curtain raiser for reader to know about what they are going to get from it ?
The Evergreen Emotion speaks about a diversity of topics from love to loss or being it family relations or socially important topics. Most importantly it gives you a new view point to look on life. There are poems such as ‘The flow’ which supports my statement.
How did you hear about CarryOnHarry ? Any message for Studio ?
Chris Riedel never saw himself as a crusader. He lived the Silicon Valley dream, founding his first company at 24, then starting two others while he was still a young man. The first two companies revolutionized how bacterial infections were diagnosed and treated — saving hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. He retired early to enjoy raising his young sons with his wife Marcia.
He chose the latter, filing what is called a Qui-tam, or Whistleblower lawsuit (also called the Lincoln Law, because that President signed it into law to prevent massive fraud by U.S. Army contractors during the Civil War). With a Qui-tam suit, the plaintiff sues on behalf of the taxpayer, and if the suit is won, is rewarded with up to 30% of the recovered monies and damages — to be shared, of course, with the attorneys. Nevertheless, it’s a major legal gamble because many of these cases go nowhere after huge time and money investment. But staying with them can ultimately catch and punish the lawbreakers — while restoring millions or even billions to the public till. And so, Chris stood up for justice!
When it comes to finding ideas and developing characters, La Croix’s creative process is driven by random thoughts that pop into his head. Whether it be for a new story or a revelation in an existing one, these musings spark his imagination. La Croix describes the experience as being hypnotized, where he loses track of time, and the events unfold vividly in his mind. He believes that writing is more about observing and documenting these events rather than creating them from scratch. As the story progresses, characters take on a life of their own, and La Croix transitions from being the driver to a passenger on the speeding bullet train of storytelling.
I am a school student who was passionate about writing since childhood until the overwhelming passion turned me to an author from a writer. I also take keen interest in quizzing and martial arts.
