On Jan. 14, 2003, Allstate Insurance Company filed an amended complaint charging Dallas, Texas-based Accident & Injury Pain Center, Inc. (A & I), its related entities and various chiropractors, osteopaths and medical doctors with common-law fraud; common-law conspiracy; unjust enrichment; and violations of "numerous provisions of the Texas Occupations Code." Named in the lawsuit were A & I owner Robert Smith; chief of staff and compliance officer Thomas Rhudy, DC; 9 associated companies; 3 medical doctors; 13 additional DCs; 2 osteopaths; and 1 pharmacy. Allstate requested that the court declare "that they [Allstate] are not liable for, and do not owe" over $41 million in fees billed to Allstate by A & I and its various associated companies.1 It was estimated that A & I and its various related entities were billing over $100 million per year to different insurance companies.
On Aug. 23, 2001, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appointed Dr. Rhudy (who is also a member of the National Association for Chiropractic Medicine - NACM) to the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The appointment was made just 84 days after A & I owner Robert Smith made a $25,000 donation to "Texans for Rick Perry." This donation was Smith's first recorded donation to the governor. Although Rhudy was appointed by Gov. Perry and was considered a member of the chiropractic board, the Texas State Senate was required to confirm his appointment during the first half of 2003.
Toward the end of 2002, A & I owner smith made several more contributions totaling $80,000, targeted toward individuals involved in the confirmation process. Among Smith's additional monetary gifts were an additional $25,000 to Gov. Perry; $25,000 for Lieutenant Gov. Dewhurst (who is president of the Senate, and appoints the Senate Nominations Committee that would ultimately make recommendations on Rhudy's appointment); and $5,000 to Robert Deuell, MD, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Nominations. Burns' total contributions to Texas legislators, before and during the time of Rhudy's appointment, exceeded $270,000.2
Dynamic Chiropractic published an article exposing the Allstate lawsuit and Burns' donation history in the Feb. 24, 2003, issue of DC.3 The article was placed the ChiroWeb.com on Jan. 28, 2003. In addition, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) sent Gov. Perry a letter on Feb. 3, 2003, voicing their opposition to Rhudy's appointment.
On Feb. 6, 2003, the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners received a copy of a letter from Gov. Perry to the Texas Senate stating:
"On January 20, 2003, I submitted the name of Thomas R. Rhudy of Rockwall for appointment to the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners for a term to expire February 1, 2007.
"I hereby withdraw his nomination for this committee and request that the Senate return this appointment to me."
Dr. Rhudy may still be a member of the NACM, but he is no longer a member of the Texas Chiropractic Board, and remains a defendant in the ongoing $41 million Allstate lawsuit.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
