Trial Of 79-Year-Old Saddle Brook Doctor In $100M Fraud Case Begins

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — Opening arguments Tuesday kicked off the trial of a 79-year-old Saddle Brook doctor who has been indicted in a $100 million health care fraud scheme.

Bernard Greenspan's federal trial is the first time the government's evidence will be heard in the case of Parsippany-based Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services since charges were brought against BLS and its owners, David and Scott Nicoll in April 2013.

Since then, 41 people, including more than 24 doctors, have pleaded guilty as a result of the investigation, the Associated Press reported. The scheme involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in $100 million in fraudulent Medicare and insurance payments, including $3 million from Bernard Greenspan's referrals, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman previously said.

It is believed the scheme has led to the largest number of medical professionals ever prosecuted in a bribery case

BLS allegedly gave a job to an employee Greenspan was having a sexual relationship with and a holiday office party, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.

Greenspan's attorney said in the Associated Press report that his client's dealings with the lab were "legal" and "legitimate."

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