Douglas Nadjari, Esq.
Douglas Nadjari is an accomplished trial lawyer and seasoned neutral with more than 38 years of experience resolving complex civil, criminal, regulatory, and professional disputes. His practice includes mediation of personal injury, medical malpractice, healthcare, and commercial matters, informed by decades of hands-on litigation experience and a deep understanding of the human, professional, and economic dynamics that drive conflict.
Doug’s approach to mediation is shaped by a long career in the courtroom—replete with wins and, of course, defeats—litigating and mediating both commercial disputes and cases involving personal injury. Having represented individuals, professionals, corporations, insurers, and institutions, he brings a practical appreciation of client expectations, risk tolerance, and the strategic pressures faced by counsel on all sides. He is particularly attuned to the often competing needs, personalities, and interests that can impede resolution, as well as the credibility and preparation required to move parties toward durable outcomes.
Doug is a partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., where he is a senior member of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation, Health Law Regulatory and White Collar Crime & Investigations Departments.. Over the course of his career, he has tried to verdict dozens of civil, criminal, and administrative cases and is widely recognized for his ability to find root causes and find the common ground necessary to reach practical and respectful resolution in a variety of difficult arenas. Before joining Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, Doug was a partner at a major New York City medical malpractice defense firm. Earlier, he served in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as a Supervisor in the Homicide Bureau and as Deputy Chief of the Investigations, Felony Trial, and Major Frauds Bureaus, where he led the investigation and prosecution of homicide cases and complex healthcare and financial fraud matters.
Doug is best known for representing physicians, healthcare professionals, and organizations before the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC), Office of Professional Discipline (OPD), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as in hospital medical staff proceedings, audits, claw-backs, and reimbursement disputes involving Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. His experience spans criminal, administrative, and commercial disputes—experience he now brings to his work as a mediator.
He serves as Co-Chair of the Professional Discipline Committee of the New York State Bar Association Health Law Section and is a faculty member of the Tulane University School of Law Criminal Law and Procedure “Boot Camp.” Doug is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Island Harvest Food Bank and currently serves on its Executive Committee. He is also the former President of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Health and Hospital Law Committee and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Long Island Energeia Partnership.
EXPERTISE
Personal injury
Commercial
Healthcare
Medical Malpractice
LOCATION
NY Metro
PRESENTATIONS
Defending and Prosecuting Controlled Substance Prescription Cases, Panel Moderator, New York State Bar Association Health Law Section, February 22, 2021
N.Y.S. Bar Association Annual Meeting, Disciplinary Action Against Health Care Professionals , Collateral Consequences, January 2019.
A Tightening Noose for Licensed Professionals: Collateral Consequences of Convictions, Exclusions & Professional Discipline, Nassau County Bar Association, November 1, 2018
Electronic Medical Records in the Legal Arena: A Digital Carousel of Horrors, Nassau County Bar Association, September 2018
Representing Licensed Healthcare Professionals in the Disciplinary Process: The OPMC Interview, June 2017
Ethics of Representing the Accused in Criminal Cases, Panel Discussion, Nassau County Bar Association, October 2016
Hospital & Health Law Committee: Opioid Addiction: Navigating the New Legislative Landscape & Strategies for Compliance, September 2016.
Government Investigation of Controlled Substances: Representing Health Care Entities & Providers, Nassau County Bar Association June 2016.
Panelist Long Island Association Symposium Data Breaches: A Survival Guide, April 2015.
Moderator: RMF and HUB International: Data Security for the Healthcare Industry, June 2015.
Accomplice Testimony & Evidence Uncharged Crimes at Trial and Sentencing: The Prosecutor’s Best Friend and Defendant’s Worst Nightmare, Tulane University School of Law, January 2014 – 16.
Representing Physicians & Other Healthcare Professionals: Navigating the Clear & Present Danger Posed by the National Practitioner Databank, Nassau County Bar Association, May 2014.
Settlements Verdicts & The National Practitioner Databank, A Primer on Protecting Yourself and Your Clients, NYS Medical Defense Bar Association, June 2014 Verdicts.
Healthcare Today: A Minefield for the Unwary, Including Ethical Obligations, May 2012.
Defending Health Care Professionals Against Clear & Present Danger Posed by the National Practitioner Databank, Lawline 2010.
New York’s Office Based Surgery Statute: A Practical Guide.
OPMC: A Clear & Present Danger- Trends, Threats and Risk Management.
Physician Persecution: The Criminalization of Healthcare in the New Millennium.
Fraud & Abuse and Current OPMC Trends.
Surviving the Retrospective Audits.
Practice Options & Contracting Issues for Graduating Medical Residents.
Managed Care and Managed Care Contracts The Scope of the Patient/Physician Relationship.
Medical Records & Coding Issue: A Primer for New Physicians and Medical Residents.
Legal Implications of the Physician Patient Relationship: A Primer for Medical Residents.
NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS
Represented multiple physicians in disciplinary proceedings brought by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) including one that resulted in withdrawal of all disciplinary charges during the course of an ongoing hearing.
Negotiated the full withdrawal of pending disciplinary charges already lodged against a physician by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct
Successfully negotiated the withdrawal of termination proceedings against a surgeon affiliated with a major healthcare institution and negotiated a voluntary resignation in lieu of termination and without reports to administrative agencies.
Successfully represented a registered nurse before the Office of Professional Discipline previously accused of working under the influence of controlled substances.
Successfully represented the CFO of a not-for-profit entity and avoided all charges in an investigation initiated by the Charities’ Bureau of the NYS Attorney General’s Office.
Coordinated HIPAA breach investigation, reports, responses and related government inquires for large multispecialty medical groups.
Obtained dismissal of 10 separate indictments brought against physicians and professional corporations in criminal matters brought by the Suffolk County District Attorney.
Following the completion of pretrial hearings, secured the dismissal of all criminal charges brought against a physician by the NYS Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Successfully defended physician before the OPMC in investigation concerning controversial treatment of Lyme disease.
Successfully mediated civil dispute on behalf of healthcare employer charged with sexual harassment by employee.
Successfully defended physician facing multiple sexual boundary complaints investigated by the OPMC.
Represented several physicians charged by the NYS Attorney General with engaging in conspiracies to sell prescriptions for narcotic medications.
Using NY’s Prompt Payment law, prosecuted a lawsuit against Fortune 500 health insurer on behalf of a gynecologist seeking payment for out of network services.
Successfully defended physician facing false allegation disability from the practice of medicine due to physical and mental disease investigated by the OPMC.
Successfully negotiated confidential separation from hospital system for surgeons facing allegations of research dishonesty and potential violations of federal law.
Represented several NJ podiatrists in unrelated prosecutions for Medicare fraud brought by the U. S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Represented providers of durable medical equipment (DME) in a broad conspiracy indictment involving charges of money laundering and healthcare fraud brought by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
No charges lodged against a key corporate employee of a large hospital system in a bribery and public corruption investigation undertaken by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Successfully represented key employee of a large construction company in an investigation involving a crane collapse undertaken by the NY County District Attorney.
Successfully represented a well-known Ohio art dealer in a dispute with the Metropolitan Transit Authority concerning ownership of valuable artifacts.
Successfully represented various physicians in RICO cases involving fraud and allegations of corporate practice of medicine brought by large insurance conglomerates and litigated in the U.S. District Courts.
Represented podiatrists, social workers, chiropractors, dentists and physicians in prosecutions brought by the Queens, Brooklyn and NY County District Attorney alleging participation in money laundering and healthcare fraud conspiracies.