Doctor sued over long-term care facility in the Heights

Medical doctors are suing after, they say, the money they used to open a long-term acute care facility in the Heights was misappropriated.

Sheikh Ahmed, M.D. and others filed a lawsuit on behalf of Heights-area Northwest Doctors Plaza on Feb. 8 in the Harris County District Court against Sugar Land resident Pankaj Shah, M.D., Stephen Koch, M.D. of West U, Sohail Noor, M.D. of Cinco Ranch, Anil Odhav, M.D. of Memorial and others, alleging civil conspiracy, common law and statutory fraud, misrepresentation, conversion, embezzlement and unjust enrichment.

The plaintiffs say that in December 2007, the defendants offered to sell them Medicare-approved long-term acute care units for their 1800 W. 26th St. location in the Heights. According to the brief, the plaintiffs paid the defendants $1.26 million for the units, but the defendants used this money on other medical centers unrelated to the plaintiffs’ project.

The plaintiffs claim they did not receive the units, so they demanded the return of their money; however, the defendants have yet to comply.

The plaintiffs are seeking actual, consequential and exemplary damages, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs. They are being represented in the case by Houston attorney Rabeea Sultan.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-08100.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.