NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana firm that verifies the educational and work background of health care workers is suing Hammond Surgical Hospital in a case involving intellectual property.
Southern Credentialing Support Services LLC filed a lawsuit Dec. 23 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Hammond Surgical Hospital LLC, doing business as Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital; Hammond Surgical Hospital Management Co. LLC; Hammond Surgical Hospital Holding Co. LLC; Hammond Surgical Hospital Holding Co. II LLC; W. Christopher Beary; and Ross LaGarde, alleging copyright infringement.
According to the complaint, Southern Credentialing owns the U.S. copyright registration on several health care provider credentialing forms that are being used by the defendants without authorization or license. In addition, the suit claims the defendants are using the forms despite knowing they are protected by copyright, and have been using them since 2012.
Southern Credentialing seeks an injunction to prevent unauthorized use of the forms, damages from unjust enrichment, punitive damages and legal fees. It is represented by attorneys Gregory D. Lathan and Kent C. Barnett of Intellectual Property Consulting LLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:15-cv-07013