Matthew J. Eddy
Saint Louis,MO
Summary
Practicing attorney for over 30 years with a concentration in government regulatory investigations and complex civil litigation including wrongful death, medical malpractice, and products liability. Experience includes successfully litigating insurance disputes involving claims for coverage, breach of contract, bad faith and contribution.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Shareholder
Lashly & Baer, PC
01.2007 - Current
- Shareholder of law firm and practicing attorney specializing in civil litigation with a focus on defense of complex lawsuits and health care regulatory matters for over 30 years. Licensed in state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois. Practice areas include: (1) defense of government enforcement actions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (“DHSS”), Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance Unit (“MMAC”), state attorney generals, and state licensure boards, among others; (2) defense of bet-the-company litigation alleging wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury claims arising out of medical and nursing home negligence, and exposure to toxic substances and defective products; and (3) litigation of matters involving denial of high dollar insurance coverage claims and general negligence claims, among others. Forty percent (40%) of practice involves defending actions brought by DOJ and other federal and state health oversight agencies against health care providers pursuant to the False Claims Act, federal and state Anti-Kickback laws, federal and state agency investigations relating to Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse, and the Controlled Substances Act, together with defense of licensees in health-related professions for matters in which licensure discipline is sought by state boards and agencies. Forty percent (40%) of practice involves defense of civil litigation brought against hospitals, nursing homes, nurses, physicians, laboratories, pharmacies, and other allied professionals based on allegations of provider negligence. Twenty percent (20%) of practice includes defense of civil lawsuits involving exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos, silica, and industrial chemicals/solvents as well as lawsuits involving insurance coverage disputes, premises liability, product liability, and general negligence.
- Board of Directors (2015 – 2017)
Partner
Holtkamp, Liese, Childress & Schultz, PC
06.2004 - 01.2007
Associate (2004 – 2006)
Responsible for independently handling case preparation and trial of medical negligence, nursing home negligence, product liability, and insurance coverage litigation.
Associate
Moser & Marsalek, P.C.
01.2000 - 05.2004
Responsible for preparing product liability and toxic tort cases for trial. Conducted all phases of discovery including depositions of fact/expert witnesses and high level corporate executives.
Education
J.D. -
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Kansas City, MO05-1992
B.S.B.A. - Finance
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO05-1989
Skills
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptable
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Computer skills
- Calm under pressure
- Problem resolution
- Verbal communication
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- The Missouri Bar
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
Timeline
Shareholder
Lashly & Baer, PC
01.2007 - Current
Partner
Holtkamp, Liese, Childress & Schultz, PC
06.2004 - 01.2007
Associate
Moser & Marsalek, P.C.
01.2000 - 05.2004
J.D. -
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
B.S.B.A. - Finance
University of Missouri-Columbia
Representative Seminars (Served as Speaker/Panelist)
“Lawsuits and your role: How your actions can be helpful or harmful to the defense,” Hospital Nursing Staff seminars by Lashly & Baer, P.C., St. Louis; Missouri, 2015 – 2020.
Representative Judgments, Settlements, Appeals and Trials
- Payne v. The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, LLC (2022)
- Missouri Court of Appeals upheld summary judgment obtained for defendant rehabilitation hospital based on expiration of the statute of limitations in a medical negligence lawsuit brought by patient who was injured when she fell from a therapy table.
- United States of America v. Olive Street Pharmacy, et al. (2021)
- Successfully represented defendant pharmacy in action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice seeking civil monetary penalties for violations of the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act (“FCA”) as a result of allegedly dispensing opioids and other controlled substances pursuant to prescriptions issued without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. DOJ also alleged false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs in violation of the FCA. Initially, DOJ sought monetary penalties in excess of $8 million and surrender of the pharmacy’s DEA registration to dispense controlled substances and closure of the pharmacy. Led litigation team that was able to mount a compelling defense to the government’s claims resulting in a substantially reduced civil monetary penalty and negotiation of settlement and corporate integrity agreements allowing the pharmacy to keep its DEA registration and stay in business.
- Minden et al. v. Atain Specialty Insurance Company (2015)
- Prevailed for plaintiffs in state court lawsuit and follow-on declaratory judgment action in federal district court recovering $1.4 million. Successfully argued before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that automobile and assault and battery exclusions contained in a CGL insurance policy did not apply to preclude coverage for fatal injuries suffered by plaintiffs’ family member who was struck by an automobile on the premises of an insured business owner.
- Valerie Jackson, et al. v. Leland Health Care Center, LLC, et al. (2005)
- Obtained directed verdict at the conclusion of a five-week jury trial on behalf of a nursing home administrator. Action was a wrongful death lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged their decedent died as a result of malnutrition, pressure ulcers, and heat exposure. Plaintiffs sought $50 million in damages from the jury.
Other Representative Expertise
- Appeals
- Administrative hearings
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Insurance coverage
- Contract interpretation
- HIPAA compliance guidance
- Peer review
- Medicare and Medicaid provider issues
- Drafting policies and procedures
- Risk management
Representative Clients
- Encompass Health Corporation
- HCA Healthcare
- Planned Parenthood
- The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, LLC
- The Rehabilitation Institute of Southern Illinois, LLC
- Rusk Rehabilitation Center, LLC
- Atlas Copco Compressors, LLC
- Carver Pump Company
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Missouri, 1992
- Supreme Court of Illinois, 1994
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, 1994
- United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Judicial Circuit, 2006
- United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2007