Practice Areas
Professional License Defense Lawyer
Facing possible licensing discipline or revocation because of charges of violating prescribed standards of conduct or operations, alleged sexual misconduct, alleged billing fraud or other misconduct?
We can help defend your rights!
Criminal Defense Lawyer California & Texas
With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Khouri has handled multiple federal and state cases.
His strategy is to pin point the prosecution’s weakness and exploit that weakness to the ultimate benefit of his clients
Medicare/Medicaid Audit Defense
It is extremely important that the health care provider obtain experienced professional representation in responding to a Medicaid audit notice.
If not resolved properly it could lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars or criminal indictment in some cases.
Appellate Matters
Mr. Khouri’s vast experience as a trial lawyer enables him to quickly identify errors at trial and argue with confidence and skill at the appellate level. He handles appellate matters in criminal cases, both federal and state, professional licensure cases, and Medicare audit cases.
Employment Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Whether the clients interest is in a confidential settlement or a jury trial, Mr. Khouri has litigated such suits against private companies and governmental entities.
White Collar Defense
Fraud, bribery, wage theft, ponzi schemes, insider trading, embezzlement, cybercrime, identity theft, money laundering, forgery, racketeering.
We can help!
Unemployment Insurance Fraud Defense
You need an experienced criminal defense team when facing unemployment insurance fraud charges. A conviction can lead to serious penalties.
Let us use our 30 years experience to help your legal claim
There is no case to big or to small for us to handle. We have seen it all.
Please give us a call at 949-336-2433 to learn more.
Detailed Explanation of our Practice Areas
Professional License Defense Lawyer
If you are facing possible licensing discipline or revocation because of charges of violating prescribed standards of conduct or operations, alleged sexual misconduct, alleged billing fraud or other misconduct, you should only consider hiring an aggressive professional licensing defense attorney. Michael Khouri protects the rights of doctors, other health care professionals and other licensed professionals (i.e. real estate sales persons, insurance brokers, etc.) who face licensing sanctions upon allegations of unethical or illegal conduct.
Khouri Law can handle all components of your license defense. From the defense of an initial investigation, to case preparation and hearings, to presentations before your professional Board, and to challenging Board actions in court, Khouri Law is prepared to represent your interests. Mr. Khouri has even argued before the California appellate courts on the extent of procedural protections afforded a professional by his licensing Board. If you face a disciplinary action due to allegations of unethical, illegal or substandard practices, everything you worked for could be in jeopardy. Contact Mr. Khouri today to discuss your professional license defense situation.
Criminal Defense Lawyer California & Texas
Mr. Khouri also focuses his practice in the area of Criminal Defense in both Federal and State Courts in and out of California. He has successfully defended criminal defendants in cases charging drug conspiracy, alien smuggling, bank robbery, organized crime violations, Medicare & Medi-Cal fraud, counterfeiting, organized prostitution conspiracies, immigration fraud and more.
Federal
With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Khouri has handled multiple federal cases. He has defended individuals charged in large drug conspiracies, prostitution conspiracies, counterfeiting, bank robbery and organized crime cases. His strategy is to pin point the prosecution’s weakness and exploit that weakness to the ultimate benefit of his clients. Focusing mainly on the defense of health care and other white collar professionals, who are charged with criminal fraud, Mr. Khouri has tried cases in Federal courts both in and outside of California. Mr. Khouri is considered a federal criminal defense attorney in Orange County and spends much of his time in the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, CA.
State
Mr. Khouri also defends clients charged with crimes in state court. Recently, Mr. Khouri successfully defended a third year medical student charged with rape within a hospital. He also recently successfully defended a corporate executive who, while driving killed a cyclist. Mr. Khouri routinely defends health care providers charged with Medi-Cal, workers compensation and other types of fraud in state court.
Medicare/Medicaid Audit Defense
The Khouri Law Firm represents health care providers in virtually every aspect of Medicare/Medi-Cal program audits, investigations and litigation. Our clients include physicians, medical groups, mental health professionals, pharmacies, nursing homes, home health care agencies, durable medical product companies, dentists and other health facilities. It is extremely important that the health care provider obtain experienced professional representation in responding to a Medicare/Medi-Cal Program audit notice. There are many legal issues raised by a Medicare/Medi-Cal audit which if not resolved properly could lead to professional licensure discipline, the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars or criminal indictment.
Mr. Khouri understands how to correctly respond to audit questionnaires, how to represent a provider during an audit and how to challenge the auditors conclusions in court if necessary. Mr. Khouri also understands how to conduct a self audit through a team of highly qualified defense investigators and auditors. Mr. Khouri is routinely called upon by national insurance companies to defend such audits on behalf of their insureds.
Medicare Coverage for Nonemergency Ambulance Transportation
In addition, we have represented ambulance companies and rescue squads in the defense of federal billing fraud criminal cases and federal administrative audits of Medicare billings. In these matters, we have successfully argued that the courts and administrative agencies should adopt an expanded definition of homebound status and how and when coverage is created for non emergency ambulance transportation of dialysis patients.
Appellate Matters
The Khouri Law Firm also prepares and argues appeals on behalf of clients who have not obtained a satisfactory result in the trial court. Mr. Khouri’s vast experience as a trial lawyer enables him to quickly identify errors at trial and argue with confidence and skill at the appellate level. He handles appellate matters in criminal cases, both federal and state, professional licensure cases, and Medicare audit cases. Khouri Law handles appeals in both California state and federal courts. When Mr. Khouri was a deputy district attorney, he represented the statewide association of prosecutors and argued before the California Supreme Court in People v. Bravo (1987) 43 Cal. 3d 600. In that case, the California Supreme court set a new standard for police searches of repeat narcotics offenders. Mr. Khouri has been instrumental in obtaining other published decisions from the California Court of Appeals and the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Employment Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer
The Khouri Law Firm represents plaintiffs in employment discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuits. Whether the clients interest is in a confidential settlement or a jury trial, Mr. Khouri has litigated such suits against private companies and governmental entities. At the present time, Mr. Khouri represents the lead plaintiff in a civil rights case in federal court against the county of Orange arising out of the sexual abuse and harassment of inmates in county custody.
White Collar Defense
White-collar crime refers to financially motivated, nonviolent crime by business or government
professionals. It was first defined in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability
and high social status in the course of their occupation. Typical white-collar offenses include:
Fraud, bribery, wage theft, ponzi schemes, insider trading, embezzlement, cybercrime, identity theft, money laundering, forgery, racketeering.
Khouri Law has been representing individuals accused of white collar crimes for over thirty years. We are ready to defend your rights and get you the best possible outcome.
Unemployment Insurance Fraud Defense
Unemployment insurance fraud (UI) is the misrepresentation of your employment status and/or claiming that you are looking for work when you aren’t. Unemployment insurance benefits are funded by both the state and the federal government. Fraud cases can be prosecuted in either state or federal court.
Types of UI Fraud
Most cases occur after a worker knowingly makes false statements or misrepresentations in order to obtain unemployment payments. Any lies, misrepresentations, or other intentional actions or statements that lead to receiving UI payments when a person is ineligible can result in fraud charges. Here are four common examples of this crime.
False Information, Identification, or Identity Theft
Some workers try to obtain unemployment insurance payments by submitting applications that contain false or misleading information. For example. An applicant who uses a false name or the personal identifying information of someone else to obtain benefits is committing fraud. Also, false information about employment status or income can also result in fraud charges.
Failure to Report Employment
Some people who apply for unemployment insurance later go on to find a job. When this happens, the person receiving the payments has an obligation to report their new employment as well as how much they make to the state unemployment office. Failure to do so can also result in fraud charges.
Misrepresenting Employment Efforts
A person is required to actively look for employment in order to receive unemployment benefits. Someone who fails to actively seek employment while reporting that he or she is looking also commits UI fraud.
Employer Fraud
Employers can also commit UI fraud. There are several ways employers can do this such as misclassifying workers as independent contractors, paying workers “under the table” or providing false information about worker’s eligibility for benefits.
Legal Defense
Khouri Law Firm has used a variety of legal defenses that have to lead to successful outcomes in unemployment insurance fraud cases. Here are just two of the most common defenses.
Lack of Criminal Intent
You cannot accidentally commit unemployment insurance fraud. To be convicted of this crime, a person has to intentionally lie, conceal, or do something else to fraudulently receive payments. If, for example, you mistakenly underreport your prior income when you apply for unemployment, this isn’t enough to fraud.
Identity Theft
If your identity has been stolen and then used to fraudulently apply for and receive unemployment payments, you have not committed fraud.
Lack of Evidence
In any criminal proceeding, the state has the responsibility to present evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused has committed a crime.
With over 30 years of experience, Khouri Law Firm is very effective at proving reasonable doubt in UI fraud cases.
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Michael J. Khouri has been practicing law in Orange County for over 30 years and is considered an expert in professional licensing defense.
Let us use our 30 years experience to help your legal case
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