Attorney files $1 billion lawsuit

By John Stevenson : The Herald-Sun
jstevenson@heraldsun.com
Jan 24, 2008

DURHAM -- With a blast of showmanship and a prayer for help to "a Lord who has never lost a case," flamboyant Florida attorney Willie Gary on Wednesday launched what he styled as a $1 billion lawsuit to protect a mental-health provider from alleged harm by the Durham Center and other defendants.
The suit, filed in Durham County Superior Court, contends there is "a deception and scheme to dismantle, destroy and drive Dominion Healthcare Services, Inc. out of business."
Dominion Healthcare, with about 1,200 employees, offers evaluations and treatment to mentally ill Medicaid consumers in the Tar Heel State.
However, the company is being arbitrarily deprived of its ability to function, putting its future in jeopardy along with the lives of patients, according to Wednesday's lawsuit.
The Durham Center, which has a major hand in community mental-health services, is one of 10 named defendants. Others include the center's area director, Ellen Holliman; the Wake County Human Services Limited Management Entity; the Five County Local Management Entity; the Mecklenburg County Local Management Entity; and a firm known as Value Options.
No response was available Wednesday from the local defendants.
"We are advised to have no comment at this time," said Robert Robinson, deputy director of the Durham Center.
County Manager Mike Ruffin also declined comment.
A $1 billion figure was not mentioned in official court paperwork.
To do so would have been a violation of civil procedure in North Carolina.
State rules require that lawsuits be worded only to seek damages "in excess of $10,000," although attorneys may argue to a jury for virtually any amount.
The $10,000 phraseology was adopted years ago, largely to prevent lawsuits from being overly sensationalized.