Stephen G.Sozio (Steve)

Of Counsel

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7201

Steve Sozio's practice involves the representation of businesses, health care organizations, and their employees during investigations by federal and local governmental authorities for potential criminal charges; prosecuting and defending civil actions on behalf of clients involved with allegations of fraud, false claims, and other business-related wrongdoing; and advising health care and corporate clients regarding compliance issues to avoid governmental sanctions.

Since joining Jones Day, Steve has represented corporations, hospitals, and executives that were the subjects of investigations by federal and local grand juries and/or regulatory agencies involving alleged health care fraud, defense contractor fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) violations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and securities fraud, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fraud, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actions, prevailing wage violations, import/export issues, federal campaign contribution violations, and economic espionage. He also has conducted many internal and external investigations on behalf of boards of directors and senior management.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Steve was an investigating prosecutor for the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio for 10 years. He has tried cases in federal court under the federal racketeering, criminal tax, money laundering, customs, fraud, public corruption, drug, forfeiture, and conspiracy laws.

He is an adjunct professor at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University where he has taught compliance, criminal procedure, and white collar crime.

Experiência

  • Independent living facility chain resolves FCA investigationJones Day represented a national chain of independent living facilities in a False Claims Act case involving whether the company facilitated residents in abusing a Veterans Administration program to obtain funds to cover their rents.
  • LabCorp obtains dismissal of qui tam action alleging violations of Anti-Kickback Statute and Medicare billing regulationOn behalf of Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), a nationwide provider of health care diagnostic testing services, Jones Day successfully moved to dismiss a qui tam complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) and the FCA analogs in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Academic medical center secures Sixth Circuit victory affirming dismissal of False Claims Act actionJones Day obtained a Sixth Circuit decision affirming the dismissal of a False Claims Act action and several state law claims brought against an academic medical center, a surgeon, and other employees of the hospital.
  • Cleveland Clinic prevails in challenge to its real estate tax exemptionJones Day represented the Cleveland Clinic in cases challenging the Cleveland Clinic's status as a charitable institution.
  • LabCorp obtains complete dismissal of Virginia qui tam action alleging submission of false claims to MedicaidIn one of the first cases litigated under the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, an analog to the federal False Claims Act, Jones Day represented Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), a nationwide provider of health care diagnostic testing services.
  • Hospital reference laboratory has false claims investigation dismissedJones Day represented a hospital system's reference laboratory that serviced several hospitals and private physician practices in a qui tam action filed by an employee.
  • Health system conducts compliance effectiveness reviewJones Day conducted a compliance effectiveness review for a multi-hospital system.
  • Pharmaceutical and device manufacturers conduct compliance risk assessmentJones Day conducted a compliance risk assessment of two manufacturers' existing compliance programs.
  • Medical device company defends investigations by U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI and FDA's Office of Criminal Investigation regarding 510K issues and representations to the FDAJones Day represented a medical device company in an investigation by a U.S. Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the FBI and FDA's Office of Criminal Investigation, regarding representations to the agency and whether the client was distributing unapproved medical devices.
  • Manufacturing company obtains declination of all criminal charges by DOJ and monetary settlement with SEC in parallel criminal/civil investigations for alleged fraud in financial statementsJones Day represented a NYSE manufacturing company that was investigated by a U.S. Attorney's Office and the Staff of the SEC's Enforcement Division for alleged disclosure violations and financial statement fraud in connection with revenue and expense recognition, capitalization and reserve issues.
  • Industrial manufacturer revitalizes compliance programJones Day oversaw a U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission investigation regarding FCPA and financial statement issues on behalf of the Board of Directors of an industrial manufacturer.
  • Manufacturing company assesses and reconfigures compliance programAt the request of the Board of Directors of a public manufacturing company in the food industry, Jones Day assessed the company's existing compliance program.
  • Hospice provider secures dismissal of False Claims Act caseJones Day successfully represented a hospice provider in a Department of Justice Investigation spurred by a qui tam lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act.
  • Medical center resolves investigation regarding 340B purchasing practicesJones Day successfully negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement with the State of California, Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Health Care Services on behalf of a medical center regarding Medicaid reimbursement practices related to the 340B drug discount program.
  • Public retail company obtains declination of action by SEC after investigation of the company and its audit committeeJones Day represented a NYSE public retail company and the audit committee of its Board in an investigation by the Enforcement Division Staff following a restatement of three years of financial statements largely involving reserve issues.
  • Hospital resolves U.S. Attorney's office and HHS OIG investigation for alleged overchargesJones Day represented a hospital in an investigation by a U.S. Attorney's office and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services for alleged overcharges in connection with transfusion therapy services.
  • Major teaching, research and clinical hospital obtains dismissal of federal and state class actions challenging its not-for-profit status and billing practicesJones Day represented a major teaching, research and clinical hospital system in class actions in federal and state courts challenging its not-for-profit status and billing practices.
  • Physician researcher testifies before House of Representatives subcommitteeJones Day represented a physician researcher at a major academic medical center in connection with testimony before a House of Representatives subcommittee that was investigating the results of his published analysis; also advised the client in connection with FDA panel presentation.
  • Helicopter parts manufacturer resolves qui tam actionJones Day represented a manufacturer of parts for helicopters used by all branches of the U.S. armed services and the Coast Guard.
  • Research scientists defend allegations of possible defense contractor fraudJones Day represented several scientists who were developing defense technology pursuant to a contract between their employer and the U.S. Air Force.
  • Property and casualty insurance company obtains declination of all possible actions in claims-handling investigationJones Day represented a large property and casualty insurance company that was the subject of an investigation by the FBI, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. Attorney's Office and a congressional sub-committee in connection with the processing of property insurance claims following a natural catastrophe.
  • Palestras / Aulas

    • November 28, 2017
      Compliance Today: Benchmarking and Practical Insights, Jones Day CLE Academy 2017
    • November 9, 2016
      Jones Day Global Life Sciences Conference – 2016 Issues & Trends
    • September 22, 2016
      Emerging Enforcement Trends and Developments
    • April 9-10, 2013
      Jones Day 2013 Chicago Health Care Conference
    • April 17-21, 2012
      Jones Day Sponsors the ABA Section of International Law Spring Meeting in New York
    • April 19, 2012
      Qui Tam Litigation: When Private Parties Pursue Claims for the Government
    • April 5, 2012
      Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Bootcamp Series, Part IV: Federal Civil False Claims Act, AHLA webinar
    • March 28, 2012
      Healthcare 2012: Issues & Answers For A Complex Industry
    • March 28, 2012
      Health Care 2012: Issues and Answers for a Complex Industry
    • February 24, 2012
      Doing Business in Asia: Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies
    • October 19, 2011
      Trends in Compliance and Government Enforcement, 15th Annual Health Care Compliance Forum
    • March 15, 2011
      Counsel in the Cross Hairs? Lessons Learned From Recent Prosecutions, Health Care Compliance and Enforcement Forum
    • June 11, 2010
      2010 Speaker Series: Responding to Government Investigations
    • November 12, 2009
      Litigation Potpourri
    • June 4, 2009
      Proposed Amendments to the False Claims Act, HCCA Web Conference