Back to all newsCW wins Ninth Circuit appeal in healthcare fraud case
November 2025
CW won a Ninth Circuit appeal on behalf of an individual in a multi-defendant fraud case.
Following a lengthy and complex trial, a federal jury convicted the individual of one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and one count of conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs. Facing a potential sentence of 20 years, the individual retained CW to challenge her convictions and sentence, first in post-trial motions and later on appeal.
A CW team led by Alyssa Bell and Rachael Robinson litigated the case before the Ninth Circuit. Key among the errors raised was the district court's decision to send the indictment to the deliberating jury after they had announced their deadlock and received an Allen charge. At oral argument, Rachael convinced a three-judge panel that the district court thereby "effectively highlighted the government’s factual theory of the case and impermissibly coerced a verdict." The panel reversed, vacated the client's convictions, and remanded for a new trial.