Malpractice suit against a dishonest veterinarian
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Join the legal battle- a malpractice lawsuit against a veterinarian that profits from putting pets through dangerous procedures. Oscar the dog was paralyzed and had to be euthanized as a result of being physically forced into an unnecessary MRI- a money making scheme.
Oscar, a rescue dog, was one of many animals injured and paralyzed by a dishonest and unethical vet. Due to loopholes in the legal system and the powerful, insurance company-funded lawyers behind the lucrative vet practice, the only way to stop this from continuing to happen to pets and their families is to help Oscar’s team win a malpractice suit.
Honest, hard-working veterinarians, and various pet owners who have lost their animals to this unethical facility, have tried to expose the truth about this practice in the past and laid the groundwork for this lawsuit. Now, Oscar’s team is in the final legal stages of proving malpractice. With your help, we can fight to assure that no more animals are injured or killed by this very rich, often complained about, veterinarian practice.
This GoFundMe was started by a group of people who knew Oscar, and other victims of Dominic Marino’s Long Island Vet Specialists, and its chief perpetrator Catherine Loughin DVM. It was created as a surprise for Oscar’s owner to help with legal costs.
In 2021, we will present Oscar’s owner with this GoFundMe Campaign and the funds raised to help, and update the page with progress on the court action throughout 2021 and 2022. Please read Oscar's story below, and leave a small donation and a message of support. Even $1 helps fund the legal fees for Oscar’s team to fight this injustice in his memory. The New York Post and others are covering the case.
In May of 2021, the judge ordered depositions and discovery to move forward on the malpractice lawsuit.
Oscar’s Story:
Oscar was a rescue dog who was paralyzed by a corrupt and unethical veterinarian, ultimately leading to his death. People who loved Oscar started this GoFundMe page to make sure this heartbreak NEVER happens again.
Our discovery has shown that this vet has been mistreating many beloved pets and defrauding vulnerable pet owners for a long time, and getting away with it. The practice is powerful and wealthy, and they know how to manipulate the system and regulations. Multiple complaints have been filed over the years with the State Licensing Board by victims with similar stories, yet their well-funded lawyers have helped them evade sanctions on multiple occasions. Oscar’s owner will NOT accept a monetary settlement in exchange for silence, at ANY price.
This nightmare started when Oscar’s owner noticed an occasional limp. Oscar had developed arthritis, though the discomfort was minor and sporadic - overall, Oscar was in great health. Oscar was taken to Long Island Vet Specialists (LIVS) for an appointment with a board-certified neurologist. The doctor there, whom they later learned was NOT a board-certified neurologist as promised, convinced Oscar's owner to let them perform an MRI on Oscar. They claimed it was necessary and that it was a safe, non-invasive procedure. They also convinced the owner that the MRI was a great idea because a "painful cancer could be causing the limp.”
This beautiful, happy dog walked into the room where a “nurse” as they called her (Oscar’s owner learned later they were not actually licensed nurses) took him to the prep area.
Oscar never walked again.
The next day, when Oscar's owner went to pick him up, the vet's staff carried Oscar in like a sack of potatoes – he was barely conscious and clearly paralyzed. With cold indifference they put the now crippled dog on the floor, and acted shocked at the owner's reaction. The “nurse” and “tech” (who was also not licensed), claimed they were unaware that Oscar wasn’t previously crippled. They apologized, maintaining their ignorance of the situation, and said the vet had taken the day off. Terrified, the owner began to call the police. The staff got the vet on the phone, while Oscar lay on the floor in agony. The owner's intention was to get a police report, and then race Oscar to the emergency room at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan.
The vet asked to speak to the owner, and convinced him then that this was just a side effect of anesthesia that is common in older dogs and that Oscar would be fine in a few days. She insisted the owner keep him in their care, and he obliged.
The vet billed the owner's credit card, and continued to try to persuade him to authorize many more expensive services, procedures, and products to treat the damage they caused. This is a pattern of corrupt behavior frequently attributed to this place on multiple Yelp and other reviews over the years, along with a testimonial sent to us by a vet who worked there for six years.
The results of the MRI showed that there was no issue other than arthritis after all. It was all a lie contrived by the vet with no medical logic or rationale. Expert veterinarian witnesses and vets from a world-renowned facility said that Oscar’s symptoms did not indicate cancer, nor justified an MRI (he had already had a safe and effective CT scan). The vet at LIV’s claim that "a quick disc surgery" on Oscar would have him walking fine in two days was an utter and complete lie - a swindle. The MRI, while not safe for a dog of Oscar's structure, is the most profitable diagnostic a vet can sell.
The owner received a call from an employee at LIVS, who was resigning. He cautioned the owner that he was being lied to, as the doctor was covering up what happened to Oscar – and that they had damaged his spine and were now milking him for money. Oscar’s condition worsened each day, and he was left soiled most of the time, eventually developing fecal and urine burns as well as pressure ulcers from the lack of care and movement.
The owner immediately hired a vet tech to help him transfer Oscar to the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in Manhattan. AMC put Oscar in the care of emergency vets, animal physical therapists and neurologists. After a few days, they diagnosed Oscar with a 50/50 chance of recovery, depending on the severity of the spinal damage. Oscar was transferred home so he could be more comfortable, and receive 24-hour nursing care. Oscar needed to be bathed twice a day as the spinal injury had caused loss of control of his bodily functions. The Animal Medical Center sent neurologists and vet techs to the home, as Oscar needed to be lifted, massaged, hand fed, hand watered, continually medicated day and night, and have his bladder and bowels manually voided. His owner stayed by his side 24/7 and slept on the floor next to his bed. Oscar continued to decline, and eventually the AMC said the spinal damage caused by this Long Island vet was causing too much pain. This sweet, loving dog had to be euthanized.
We have since found out that LIVS has a history and reputation for similar incidents- they maximize profits by performing unnecessary, inappropriate and dangerous procedures, and then try to monetize the very injuries they cause. Many reputable vets in the community, a journalist who is working on a story about fraudulent veterinary practices in the area, and other past customers claim that this vet is horrible and dishonest. We want this examined in court - the facts, the figures, and the testimonies.
There are dozens of Yelp reviews over many years that confirm this abuse- LIVS has paid Yelp to push down the bad reviews to a box at the bottom. There are many horror stories similar to Oscar's going back several years in Yelp. We are pursuing and requesting an investigation by the State Licensing Board, and have joined an advocacy group of whistleblowers who have filed complaints about this vet business with the Attorney General's Office.
This is a moral crusade – and we need help with the legal costs to fight a veterinary medical malpractice case. It is a tough fight, but will help expose the corrupt vets involved and will be tracked in the media. The litigation is expensive and involves complaints, depositions, expert witnesses, transcripts, lawyer fees, and more. If the vet offers a monetary settlement in exchange for silence, we will NOT accept it. This is not about money- this is about preventing other pets and their owners from going through the horrors and tragic loss that we and many others have experienced.
No donation amount is too small. Expert witnesses are $6,000. Deposition transcripts are $5,000. Legal costs are high, as are research costs. $1, $3, $5, $10, $25 – no amount is too small.
In the instance there are any unused funds, they will be turned over to charities that help animals and fight animal abuse.
Thank you for helping to get justice for Oscar- we cannot imagine anything worse than harming animals for profit.
Oscar, a rescue dog, was one of many animals injured and paralyzed by a dishonest and unethical vet. Due to loopholes in the legal system and the powerful, insurance company-funded lawyers behind the lucrative vet practice, the only way to stop this from continuing to happen to pets and their families is to help Oscar’s team win a malpractice suit.
Honest, hard-working veterinarians, and various pet owners who have lost their animals to this unethical facility, have tried to expose the truth about this practice in the past and laid the groundwork for this lawsuit. Now, Oscar’s team is in the final legal stages of proving malpractice. With your help, we can fight to assure that no more animals are injured or killed by this very rich, often complained about, veterinarian practice.
This GoFundMe was started by a group of people who knew Oscar, and other victims of Dominic Marino’s Long Island Vet Specialists, and its chief perpetrator Catherine Loughin DVM. It was created as a surprise for Oscar’s owner to help with legal costs.
In 2021, we will present Oscar’s owner with this GoFundMe Campaign and the funds raised to help, and update the page with progress on the court action throughout 2021 and 2022. Please read Oscar's story below, and leave a small donation and a message of support. Even $1 helps fund the legal fees for Oscar’s team to fight this injustice in his memory. The New York Post and others are covering the case.
In May of 2021, the judge ordered depositions and discovery to move forward on the malpractice lawsuit.
Oscar’s Story:
Oscar was a rescue dog who was paralyzed by a corrupt and unethical veterinarian, ultimately leading to his death. People who loved Oscar started this GoFundMe page to make sure this heartbreak NEVER happens again.
Our discovery has shown that this vet has been mistreating many beloved pets and defrauding vulnerable pet owners for a long time, and getting away with it. The practice is powerful and wealthy, and they know how to manipulate the system and regulations. Multiple complaints have been filed over the years with the State Licensing Board by victims with similar stories, yet their well-funded lawyers have helped them evade sanctions on multiple occasions. Oscar’s owner will NOT accept a monetary settlement in exchange for silence, at ANY price.
This nightmare started when Oscar’s owner noticed an occasional limp. Oscar had developed arthritis, though the discomfort was minor and sporadic - overall, Oscar was in great health. Oscar was taken to Long Island Vet Specialists (LIVS) for an appointment with a board-certified neurologist. The doctor there, whom they later learned was NOT a board-certified neurologist as promised, convinced Oscar's owner to let them perform an MRI on Oscar. They claimed it was necessary and that it was a safe, non-invasive procedure. They also convinced the owner that the MRI was a great idea because a "painful cancer could be causing the limp.”
This beautiful, happy dog walked into the room where a “nurse” as they called her (Oscar’s owner learned later they were not actually licensed nurses) took him to the prep area.
Oscar never walked again.
The next day, when Oscar's owner went to pick him up, the vet's staff carried Oscar in like a sack of potatoes – he was barely conscious and clearly paralyzed. With cold indifference they put the now crippled dog on the floor, and acted shocked at the owner's reaction. The “nurse” and “tech” (who was also not licensed), claimed they were unaware that Oscar wasn’t previously crippled. They apologized, maintaining their ignorance of the situation, and said the vet had taken the day off. Terrified, the owner began to call the police. The staff got the vet on the phone, while Oscar lay on the floor in agony. The owner's intention was to get a police report, and then race Oscar to the emergency room at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan.
The vet asked to speak to the owner, and convinced him then that this was just a side effect of anesthesia that is common in older dogs and that Oscar would be fine in a few days. She insisted the owner keep him in their care, and he obliged.
The vet billed the owner's credit card, and continued to try to persuade him to authorize many more expensive services, procedures, and products to treat the damage they caused. This is a pattern of corrupt behavior frequently attributed to this place on multiple Yelp and other reviews over the years, along with a testimonial sent to us by a vet who worked there for six years.
The results of the MRI showed that there was no issue other than arthritis after all. It was all a lie contrived by the vet with no medical logic or rationale. Expert veterinarian witnesses and vets from a world-renowned facility said that Oscar’s symptoms did not indicate cancer, nor justified an MRI (he had already had a safe and effective CT scan). The vet at LIV’s claim that "a quick disc surgery" on Oscar would have him walking fine in two days was an utter and complete lie - a swindle. The MRI, while not safe for a dog of Oscar's structure, is the most profitable diagnostic a vet can sell.
The owner received a call from an employee at LIVS, who was resigning. He cautioned the owner that he was being lied to, as the doctor was covering up what happened to Oscar – and that they had damaged his spine and were now milking him for money. Oscar’s condition worsened each day, and he was left soiled most of the time, eventually developing fecal and urine burns as well as pressure ulcers from the lack of care and movement.
The owner immediately hired a vet tech to help him transfer Oscar to the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in Manhattan. AMC put Oscar in the care of emergency vets, animal physical therapists and neurologists. After a few days, they diagnosed Oscar with a 50/50 chance of recovery, depending on the severity of the spinal damage. Oscar was transferred home so he could be more comfortable, and receive 24-hour nursing care. Oscar needed to be bathed twice a day as the spinal injury had caused loss of control of his bodily functions. The Animal Medical Center sent neurologists and vet techs to the home, as Oscar needed to be lifted, massaged, hand fed, hand watered, continually medicated day and night, and have his bladder and bowels manually voided. His owner stayed by his side 24/7 and slept on the floor next to his bed. Oscar continued to decline, and eventually the AMC said the spinal damage caused by this Long Island vet was causing too much pain. This sweet, loving dog had to be euthanized.
We have since found out that LIVS has a history and reputation for similar incidents- they maximize profits by performing unnecessary, inappropriate and dangerous procedures, and then try to monetize the very injuries they cause. Many reputable vets in the community, a journalist who is working on a story about fraudulent veterinary practices in the area, and other past customers claim that this vet is horrible and dishonest. We want this examined in court - the facts, the figures, and the testimonies.
There are dozens of Yelp reviews over many years that confirm this abuse- LIVS has paid Yelp to push down the bad reviews to a box at the bottom. There are many horror stories similar to Oscar's going back several years in Yelp. We are pursuing and requesting an investigation by the State Licensing Board, and have joined an advocacy group of whistleblowers who have filed complaints about this vet business with the Attorney General's Office.
This is a moral crusade – and we need help with the legal costs to fight a veterinary medical malpractice case. It is a tough fight, but will help expose the corrupt vets involved and will be tracked in the media. The litigation is expensive and involves complaints, depositions, expert witnesses, transcripts, lawyer fees, and more. If the vet offers a monetary settlement in exchange for silence, we will NOT accept it. This is not about money- this is about preventing other pets and their owners from going through the horrors and tragic loss that we and many others have experienced.
No donation amount is too small. Expert witnesses are $6,000. Deposition transcripts are $5,000. Legal costs are high, as are research costs. $1, $3, $5, $10, $25 – no amount is too small.
In the instance there are any unused funds, they will be turned over to charities that help animals and fight animal abuse.
Thank you for helping to get justice for Oscar- we cannot imagine anything worse than harming animals for profit.
Organizer and beneficiary
Oscar Lehr
Organizer
New York, NY
Harold Lehr
Beneficiary