To: Jean-Philippe Chevalier who wrote (3538 ) 3/17/1998 7:55:00 AM From: Andrew Q. Viet Respond to of 7054
I have proof of Accounting Impropriety: The company is AHG Class Action Suit Filed Against Apria Healthcare Group Inc., Alleging Misrepresentations NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 1998--A class action lawsuit was filed on March 5, 1998 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, on behalf of all purchasers of Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (NYSE:AHG - news; ''Apria'' or the ''Company'') common stock between March 2, 1995 through Jan. 20, 1998, inclusive (the ''Class Period'') seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The class action claims complain of a fraudulent scheme involving the merger of Homedco Group Inc. (''Homedco'') and Abbey Healthcare Group Inc. (''Abbey'') to form Apria in July 1995. Specifically, defendants represented to the public that the merger would achieve significant cost savings, was moving smoothly and rapidly through the integration process, and that the combined company would experience and was experiencing economies of scale and efficiencies in field operations. In truth, Apria's new computerized billing system, the ''lifeblood of the Company,'' was consistently billing insurance companies for the wrong types of payments and/or authorizing services not covered by the subject insurance, causing insurance companies to reject the bills and Apria to accumulate massive amounts of accounts receivable of doubtful collectibility. Also undisclosed during the Class Period was that Apria was providing kickbacks to doctors in return for referrals, that Apria's field operations were in chaos and serious non-compliance with FDA regulations, and that Apria was selling its services at less than cost. While the foregoing was concealed from the public, it was known to defendants, and each individual defendant named in the suit engaged in illegal insider selling of Apria stock, for combined proceeds of approximately $14 million. Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of class members and is represented by Stull, Stull & Brody, a firm with extensive experience in prosecuting investor class actions and actions involving financial fraud. Stull, Stull & Brody has litigated many stockholder, class and derivative actions for violations of securities laws over the past 25 years and has obtained court approval of substantial settlement on numerous occasions. If you are a member of the class described above, you may move the court to serve as lead plaintiff to the class within 60 days from March 5, 1998. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights with respect to this matter, please contact Tzivia Brody, Esq. at Stull, Stull & Brody by calling toll-free 1-800-337-4983, or by e-mail at SSBNY@aol.com, or by fax at 212/490-2022, or by writing Stull, Stull & Brody, 6 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017.