Becker's reported on two spine-related lawsuits in April.
1. Alfred Bonati, MD, who owns Hudson, Fla.-based Bonati Spine Institute, sued the state of Florida for $500 million alleging his clinic was wrongfully shut down in 2023. His lawsuit alleged the state's shutdown was based on false accusations and cites "civil rights violations, conspiracy by state officials, defamation and libel." In March 2023 surgeries were suspended over allegations a "certified surgical technologist" was performing procedures despite not being a licensed physician. In July 2023 Bonati Spine Institute was allowed to resume surgeries after reaching an agreement with the state, which included a correction plan and a $50,000 fine.
2. RSB Spine is suing Salt Lake City-based devicemaker Innovasis over a patent for RSB's InterPlate device. RSB Spine alleges Innovasis knowingly infringed a U.S. patent, according to the lawsuit filed April 10 in U.S. District Court in Utah. Innovasis received a notice letter in 2018 from RSB Spine saying Innovasis' Ax Stand-Alone ALIF System infringed at least two claims in the patent, the lawsuit states. Innovasis responded and indicated "its unwillingness to engage in meaningful licensing discussions with RSB," the lawsuit said. Innovasis allegedly responded in the same manner to three similar letters in 2021 and 2023.