Bios - New Jersey Doctor-Patient Alliance

Samuel Shem

“Staying Human in Medicine” from The House of God to Man’s 4th Best Hospital.

Samuel Shem, Professor of Medical Humanities at NYU School of Medicine, is a novelist, playwright, and activist. His first novel The House of God, is a medical classic, selling 3 million copies. In 2016 it was chosen by Publishers Weekly, on its list of “The 10 Best Satires of All Time,” as Number 2 (Number 1 was Don Quixote; #3, Catch-22). Another ...

Ex-Cigna Exec: Wendell Potter

“How Medicare for All Can Benefit the Independent Physician.”

Wendell Potter is a former health insurance company executive who became that industry’s worst nightmare. Time Magazine called Wendell “the ideal whistleblower.” Bill Moyers called him a straight shooter. Michael Moore called him “the Daniel Ellsberg of corporate America.” Wendell walked away from his job at Cigna, the big health insurance corporation, in 2008 after what he has described as a crisis ...

Wendell Potter is a former health insurance company executive who became that industry’s worst nightmare. Time Magazine called Wendell “the ideal whistleblower.” Bill Moyers called him a straight shooter. Michael Moore called him “the Daniel Ellsberg of corporate America.”

Wendell walked away from his job at Cigna, the big health insurance corporation, in 2008 after what he has described as a crisis of conscience.

In June of 2009, Wendell went public with what he knew, and in a very big way. In riveting Congressional testimony, Wendell described how insurance company executives, in their quest to meet Wall Street’s profit expectations, routinely canceled the coverage of policyholders who got sick. He went on to disclose a common but little-known practice that industry executives, behind closed doors, called “purging.” Under purging, insurance companies used big price increases to force small businesses with sick workers to drop their policies.

Wendell also explained how insurance companies flouted regulations designed to protect consumers, and how they intentionally made it nearly impossible for consumers to get information they needed about their policies in language they could understand.

Wendell went on to become a bestselling author. The New York Times called his first book – Deadly Spin – “a tour de force.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin called his most recent book – Nation on the Take —“a stirring guide for how we can work together to reclaim our democracy and reunify our country.”

Wendell has also written hundreds of articles and columns for publications in the United States and abroad, including USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek and the Guardian, and has been a frequent guest on TV and radio. He is the founder of Tarbell.org, a journalism nonprofit that investigates the power and influence of big corporations and other special interests and co-host of the podcast The Potter Report.

Abbey Harris

"NJ Supreme Court: Current Cases Directly Impacting Physicians."

Ms. Harris currently serves as the Director of Legal Affairs and Complex Litigation for NJ PURE. Ms. Harris began her legal career as a law clerk to the New Jersey Supreme Court in the chambers of the Honorable Virginia A. Long. Following her clerkship, she entered private practice with a large national law firm, working on a variety of litigation, appellate, healthcare, ...

Anthony Argiropoulos

"Restrictive Covenants: When They're Enforceable, When They're Not."

ANTHONY ARGIROPOULOS is a Member of the Firm in the Litigation and Health Care and Life Sciences practices and Co-Chair of the firm's National Litigation Steering Committee. He represents health care clients, publicly held companies, and other large businesses in high-stakes litigation and dispute avoidance and resolution. He has represented clients in federal and state court matters throughout the United States and ...

ANTHONY ARGIROPOULOS is a Member of the Firm in the Litigation and Health Care and Life Sciences practices and Co-Chair of the firm’s National Litigation Steering Committee. He represents health care clients, publicly held companies, and other large businesses in high-stakes litigation and dispute avoidance and resolution. He has represented clients in federal and state court matters throughout the United States and his deep experience includes numerous jury trials, bench trials, injunction proceedings, arbitrations, and mediations.

Mr. Argiropoulos’ broad commercial litigation background includes antitrust, commercial torts, contract disputes, defamation and disparagement, and unfair competition. He represents a complete array of health care clients—from providers, like hospitals, hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical groups, to pharmaceutical companies, equipment manufacturers, and distributors. His diverse business clients include large commercial enterprises, retailers, supermarkets, and regulated businesses, such as recyclers and energy companies.

Prior to joining Epstein Becker Green, Mr. Argiropoulos was Member of a large regional law firm, where he served as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department.

Education

Temple University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
West Chester University (B.A., cum laude, 1993)

Bar Admissions

New Jersey
Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Memberships

The Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey (Trustee)
New Jersey State Bar Association
Mercer County Bar Association
American Health Lawyers Association

Rankings & Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America©, 2013-2020, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Health Care
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. 2019, Recognised Practitioner: New Jersey—Healthcare
The Legal 500 United States, 2017-2019, Healthcare: Service Providers; 2019, Healthcare: Health Insurers
New Jersey Law Journal’s® “40 Under 40,” 2006
New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2015-2019, Health Care and Business Litigation
New Jersey Rising Stars, 2006-2009, 2011, General Litigation

Representative Decisions

Arsenal, Inc., t/a Arsenal Associations v. Ammons, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166783 (E.D.Pa. Dec. 2, 2014) (Brody, U.S.D.J.)
Hanover 3201 Realty, LLC v. Village Supermarkets, Inc., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140286 (D.N.J. Oct. 2, 2014) (Chesler, U.S.D.J.)
CPS Medmanagement LLC f/k/a McKesson Medication Management, LLC v. Bergen Regional Medical Center, L.P., 940 F. Supp. 2d 141; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 49518 (D.N.J. Apr. 4, 2013) (McNulty, U.S.D.J.)
Deborah Heart & Lung Ctr. v. Penn Presbyterian Med. Ctr., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55654 (D.N.J., Apr. 19, 2012) (Bumb, U.S.D.J.)
John Marino, D.C. v. Twin Rivers Podiatry, P.A., Twin Rivers Podiatric Surgery Center, L.L.C., Dr. John Rafetto, D.P.M. and Dr. Brian Stahl, D.P.M., N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1096 (App. Div. 2012)
GMK Properties, LLC, f/k/a GYMK Properties, LLC, and Martin’s Liquors, LLC v. Developers Diversified Realty Corporation; Centerton Square, LLC; Wegman’s Food Markets, Inc. and South Jersey Wine & Spirits, LLC, N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 332 (App. Div. 2012)
Deborah Heart and Lung Center v. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, et al., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149664; 2012-1 Trade Cas. (CCH) P77, 760 (D.N.J. Dec. 30, 2011) (Bumb, U.S.D.J.)
Creative Marketing Alliance, Inc. v. Consolidated Services Group, Inc., Civil Action No. 09-518 (MLC) 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41123
Creative Marketing Alliance, Inc. v. Consolidated Services Group, Inc., Civil Action No. 09-518 (MLC) 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32682
EUSA Pharma (US), Inc. v. Innocoll Pharmaceuticals Limited et al., 594 F. Supp. 2d 570 (E.D.Pa. 2009)
Prospect Rehabilitation Services, Inc. v. Squitieri, 392 N.J. Super. 157; 920 A.2d 135; 2007 N.J. Super. LEXIS 110 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div.), certif. denied, 192 N.J. 293, 927 A.2d 1292, 2007 N.J. LEXIS 1046 (N.J., July 12, 2007)

Anthony P. LaRocco

"ERISA, RICO, and Surprise Bills: An Update."

Mr. La Rocco focuses his practice on a wide range of complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation, including unfair competition, contract disputes and health care and ERISA disputes. He is an “AV” rated lawyer – the highest available rating by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and professional ethics. Currently, Mr. La Rocco leads a national health care team involved in significant reimbursement litigation ...

Mr. La Rocco focuses his practice on a wide range of complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation, including unfair competition, contract disputes and health care and ERISA disputes. He is an “AV” rated lawyer – the highest available rating by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and professional ethics.

Currently, Mr. La Rocco leads a national health care team involved in significant reimbursement litigation matters on behalf of health care providers against various insurance companies’ health benefits plans and their third party administrators related to under-payment and non-payment of claims for a variety of covered medical testing procedures conducted across the United States.

Insurance Coverage: Mr. La Rocco exclusively represents corporate and individual policyholders and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from insurance companies involving claims pertaining to numerous types of policies and a variety of areas of insurance coverage, including significant provider-side health care reimbursement claims, property damage coverage for environmental site remediation, bodily injury and property damage for construction and manufacturing events, advertising injury, intellectual property coverage for trademark/unfair competition claims, product liability, toxic tort and laboratory malpractice claims, and claims involving directors & officers and errors & omissions liability, among others. He has been retained as an expert witness/consultant in insurance matters and is a frequent speaker on insurance law topics. Mr. La Rocco has been listed in Best Lawyers in America in the area of Insurance Law (Dispute Resolution) since 2008.

Business Litigation: Mr. La Rocco’s commercial and business litigation experience includes antitrust (Sherman and Clayton Acts), trade secret misappropriation, trade libel and disparagement, software licensing litigation involving the Digital Millennium Copyright and Lanham Acts, lost profits, fraudulent conveyance, and corporate veil piercing. He was lead trial counsel in a groundbreaking antitrust jury verdict which was the first antitrust claim of its type to make it to trial and to a successful verdict since the plaintiffs in Eastman Kodak v. Image Technical Services in 1992. Mr. La Rocco has also defended companies and executives against online defamatory attacks by competitors, former employees and customers in connection with internet defamation, trade libel and unfair business practices litigation.

Health Care and ERISA Disputes: Mr. La Rocco’s health care and ERISA disputes experience includes representing health care providers, ranging from major hospital systems to medical device companies, in disputes with payer insurance companies, health benefits plans, and third party administrators. Mr. La Rocco also has substantial experience counseling health care providers by evaluating contracts with payers (network contracts and participation agreements), patients (assignments of benefits and ERISA rights), and internal procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and carrier guidelines. He also advises on public relations strategies associated with the in- or out-of-network status affecting the communities served by his health care provider clients.

Brian Held

"Getting Compensated for 'Self-Pay' Emergency Care; A How-To Guide."

Brian Allan Held, a partner since 2007, has been named to the Super Lawyers list every year from 2011 to 2019. Known as a relentless litigator, a few of Mr.Held’s notable settlements include $4.5 million involving a construction defect case against a developer in Bergen County New Jersey, $1.72 million involving a work related personal injury action accident against Hostess/Drakes, $1.5 million ...

Dr. Craig Wax

"Physician Heal Thyself and Advocate for Thyself."

Dr. Craig M. Wax is a holistic Osteopathic family physician that emphasizes prevention and health. He believes in the power of one -> YOU! Dr. Wax recommends a positive attitude and daily action toward your goal of best health. He is a vigorous advocate for patient and physician rights. Dr. Wax is the pioneer of the Health Is Number One lifestyle plan. ...

Eric Poe

“Truth Revealed: Real Medical Malpractice Risks.”

Eric S. Poe, Esq., CPA holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado and a Juris Doctorate in law from Seton Hall School of Law in New Jersey. Poe is a licensed attorney and Certified Public Accountant. Eric's insurance and legal expertise has resulted in his being called to testify on the topic of insurance before the ...

Gary Herschman

“Business Strategies for Independent Physicians in The Era of Mergers and Acquisitions.”

GARY W. HERSCHMAN is a Member of the Firm in the Health Care and Life Sciences practice, in the Newark and New York offices of Epstein Becker Green. He serves on the firm’s Board of Directors, and also on its National Health Care and Life Sciences Steering Committee. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Herschman was Co-Chair of the Health Care Practice Group ...

GARY W. HERSCHMAN is a Member of the Firm in the Health Care and Life Sciences practice, in the Newark and New York offices of Epstein Becker Green. He serves on the firm’s Board of Directors, and also on its National Health Care and Life Sciences Steering Committee. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Herschman was Co-Chair of the Health Care Practice Group of a large regional law firm.

Mr. Herschman represents a diverse group of health care clients, including health systems, hospitals, large physician groups, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, home health companies, private equity and other investment funds specializing in health care companies, ambulance companies, dialysis companies, imaging centers, medical marijuana/cannabis providers, specialty care networks, management services organizations (MSOs), and other health care businesses.

Mr. Herschman advises and assists health care providers in strategically positioning themselves in the rapidly changing health care marketplace. This includes advising clients in regard to consolidations, affiliations, mergers and acquisitions, as well as, joint ventures, physician alignment, clinically integrated networks, ACOs, MSOs, IPAs, PHOs, and population health contracts. Mr. Herschman also advises health care clients on regulatory compliance (federal and state), Stark, fraud and abuse, corporate compliance, HIPAA, government investigations, and civil and administrative health care litigation.

Mr. Herschman is a frequent speaker at local and national conferences on a variety of cutting-edge health care law issues, with a focus on strategic transactions for physician groups, hospital consolidations, affiliations and acquisitions, hospital-physician alignment transactions, the formation of ACOs and CINs, regulatory compliance issues (Stark, fraud and abuse, etc.), major clinical and facility joint ventures, recent government enforcement initiatives, reducing whistleblower exposure, and conducting “Stark” audits of hospital-physician arrangements. He also has authored many articles on current health care law issues published in local and national publications.

In addition, Mr. Herschman serves as Chair of the Fraud & Abuse Practice Group of the American Health Lawyers Association, and is a member of the Editorial Boards of Bloomberg Law’s Health Law & Business and Health Care Compliance Association’s Compliance Today.

Education

The George Washington University Law School (J.D., 1989): Order of the Coif; Editor, The George Washington Law Review
Lafayette College (B.A., 1986): summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

New Jersey
New York
District of Columbia
Maryland

Memberships

American Health Lawyers Association: — Fraud & Abuse Practice Group: Vice Chair (June 2011-May 2017), Chair (June 2017-present) — Enforcement Committee (2010-2011)
Bloomberg Law’s Health Law & Business – Editorial Advisory Board Member
Compliance Today – Editorial Board Member
Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law & Policy at Seton Hall Law School – Advisory Board Member
Healthcare Financial Management Association – New Jersey and New York Chapters
American Bar Association – Health Law Forum
American College of Healthcare Executives
New Jersey State Bar Association – Health & Hospital Law Section — Health Law Section Delegate, NJSBA General Council
New York State Bar Association – Health Law Forum

Board of Directors

Circle of Life Children’s Center, Inc. (2012-2013)
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey (2005-2008)

Rankings & Recognition

Chambers USA®: 2006-2019, New Jersey Healthcare
The Legal 500 United States: 2017-2019, Healthcare: Service Providers and M&A: Middle Market (Sub-$500 Million)
New Jersey Super Lawyers®: 2005-2019, Health Care
Martindale-Hubbell® AV rating

James S. Lynch

"How to Avoid Malpractice Pitfalls: A Plaintiff-Attorney’s Perspective."

While many lawyers never see a courtroom, Jim Lynch spends much of his professional time in the courtroom arguing issues for individuals damaged as a result of safety violations, for patients seriously injured by hospitals or physicians who have failed to follow established rules for patient safety, and for individuals or classes who have been damaged by fraudulent or unethical business practices ...

While many lawyers never see a courtroom, Jim Lynch spends much of his professional time in the courtroom arguing issues for individuals damaged as a result of safety violations, for patients seriously injured by hospitals or physicians who have failed to follow established rules for patient safety, and for individuals or classes who have been damaged by fraudulent or unethical business practices or defective products. Jim and his brother Arthur Lynch are the lead trial attorneys for the firm. Due to their varied backgrounds and experience, Jim and Arthur often consult with and assist each other in preparing for trial and during trial. In fact, the two have tried cases many cases together.

Jim is a well-known and respected trial attorney with an excellent track record of success at trial. In 2013, the National Law Journal featured a multi-million-dollar settlement that Jim Lynch obtained during trial in its review of the nation’s top 50 verdicts/settlements entitled “Big Money Wins of 2013.” In 2014, he was inducted into the New Jersey Law Journal’s Personal Injury Hall of Fame. In 2016, Jim had two (2) of the top 25 Verdicts in New Jersey.

He has been named to Super Lawyer’s list published in New Jersey Magazine every year since 2008 and was again named in 2019; named as one of Bergen’s Top Lawyer’s by 201 Magazine; has been named to the New Jersey Top 100 Lawyers list since 2009; he was appointed to and currently serves on the Executive Board of NJAJ (New Jersey’s Organization of Trial Lawyers with more than 2,500 lawyer members); he is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; he is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney; and is often asked to speak at seminars teaching other attorneys issues regarding trial practice and advocacy.

Some of Jim’s notable cases have been published in The Association of Trial Lawyers Law Reporter, the New York Law Journal, the New Jersey Law Journal, the New Jersey Jury Verdict Reporter, the New York Jury Verdict Reporter, The Journal News, The Star Ledger, the Bergen Record, the Daily Observer.

Jim Lynch is one of many respected trial attorneys in his family. In the early 1900’s, his great grandfather was an attorney and then U.S. Congressional candidate for New Jersey (practicing in Paterson, NJ, then Washington, D.C.). His grandmother (Elizabeth T. Lynch), grandfather (Professor Arthur V. Lynch), uncle (Harry V. Lynch) and brother (Arthur V. Lynch) were/are all attorneys. Jim is the fifth member of the Lynch family to graduate from St. John’s University School of Law, where his grandfather (Arthur V. Lynch) taught trial practice and insurance law. His Uncle Harry V. Lynch was personal secretary to Admiral John McCain, Sr. (Navy) before becoming President of the Orange County Bar Association.

Jim graduated from Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ, Fairfield University in CT, and then St. John’s University School of Law in NY. He is married to Katherine and they are the proud parents of five children (Nicholas, Hannah, Abby, Mackenzie and Courtney). Jim has always enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball and softball, and has been the Captain of a team in the HHK/SR Softball league for the past 18 years.

Joseph A. Lagana – NJ Legislature

"OON Arb: Navigating in Uncharted Waters."

Lagana was raised in Ridgefield where he served on the borough's planning board. He attended Fordham University, where he received a B.A. in history in 2000 and later attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he received his J.D. in 2004. He has served as a clerk to Superior Court Judge John A. Conte before joining Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, a ...

Neal Masia

"Health Policy Outlook for 2020.”

Neal Masia is an Adjunct Professor of Business and Economics at Columbia University and serves as a consultant and advisor to a variety of healthcare companies and healthcare-focused investment firms. Neal spent nearly 18 years rising through the ranks at Pfizer Inc, most recently as Chief Economist and Vice President of Patient and Health Impact. As a member of Pfizer’s Senior Leadership ...

Stavros Christoudias

"Practice Management Bootcamp"

Fair Health Index: Usual, Customary & Reasonable Potability and Accountability in Billing Electronic Data Interchange SURPRISE GUEST Regulatory Updates & Legal Requirements For the Small Business Medical Practice Marketing Your Practice: Generating Earnest Reviews Town Hall with Leadership Q&A Dr. Christoudias, a second-generation surgeon, is board certified in General Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has been ...

NJDPA’s Annual Independent Physicians Summit 2020

Speakers

Samuel Shem

Ex-Cigna Exec: Wendell Potter

Abbey Harris

Anthony Argiropoulos

Anthony P. LaRocco

Brian Held

Dr. Craig Wax

Eric Poe

Gary Herschman

James S. Lynch

Joseph A. Lagana – NJ Legislature

Neal Masia

Stavros Christoudias

Contact Us