In a recent legal development, Texas attorney Dan Cogdell is facing a lawsuit brought by Dr. Dongxin Ma, an acupuncturist, who alleges that Cogdell’s law firm concluded a $2.3 million settlement without his consent in a billing fraud investigation. This suit further contends that Cogdell deployed an attorney to carry out depositions despite the individual’s lack of a requisite license to practice in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, where the federal government conducted its investigation.
The case has been filed in the Travis County district court, and Dr. Ma is pursuing claims based on deceptive trade practices, malpractice, conspiracy, and negligence, seeking damages exceeding $1 million. The controversy centers around the procedural handling of the settlement related to false billing practices, which Dr. Ma claims he did not authorize.
This legal maneuver has placed Cogdell, a prominent figure in Texas legal circles, under scrutiny, as the court proceedings unfold. The dispute highlights significant issues about client representation and the authorization of settlements in legal practice.
For a more detailed examination of the case and the filed petition, visit Bloomberg Law’s coverage here.