Danville Chiropractor Sued in 11 Counties for Fraud

Danville-based chiropractor and marketing consultant, Benjamin Altadonna, is being sued by 11 California counties on allegations of falsely marketing a spinal traction device.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley announced the filing of the civil complaint Thursday. She's joined in the filing by district attorneys for the counties of Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano and Sonoma.

The complaint was filed in Alameda County Superior Court and follows an investigation of Altadonna and his several corporate entities, which began in 2006, said Deputy District Attorney Scott Patton.

The suit seeks $1 million in civil penalties and $10 million in restitution for the customers who bought the device.

Civil penalties for illegal business practices as well as injunctive relief are also being sought.

Altadonna was not immediately available for comment.

Authorities say the investigation began after a surge in complaints alleging false claims were made in promoting a spinal traction device called the DRX-9000. 

Patton said the devices sold for about $100,000 and Altadonna received a commission on each device sold. He said about 1,000 of the devices were sold in California.

The lawsuit states Altadonna "created fraudulent health care marketing schemes that he sold to other chiropractors who used the plans to entice patients into unnecessary or expensive chiropractic treatment." 

The suit further states Altadonna and his affiliated corporations defrauded tens of thousands of chiropractors into buying his marketing products and services based on false promises of increased income.

Advertisements throughout California stated the DRX-9000 is a breakthrough medical technology with 86 percent success treating medical problems such as disc herniation.

The advertisements also stated DRX-9000 was FDA approved, a patented alternative to spinal surgery and endorsed and/or created by NASA. 

"All claims about the efficacy of the DRX-9000 can be traced to Altadonna's marketing plans and were either false or not scientifically substantiated," a press release about the lawsuit states.

The District Attorney's civil complaint alleges Altadonna knowingly and recklessly violated his legal and ethical duties as a licensed California health care professional, by creating or transmitting false marketing claims and facilitating unprofessional conduct by other health care professionals.

The DRX-9000 is manufactured in Florida by a company called Axiom worldwide and was sold throughout the United States and internationally.