Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, has come to the defense of her husband, Dr. Emmanuel "Manny" Hostin, following his inclusion in a federal lawsuit accusing him of insurance fraud.

The lawsuit, filed on December 17, names nearly 200 defendants and is one of the largest civil RICO cases ever filed in New York.

Dr. Hostin, a 54-year-old orthopedic surgeon affiliated with prominent New York hospitals such as Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill, is accused of participating in a fraudulent scheme involving American Transit Insurance Company.

The lawsuit claims he and others received illegal kickbacks while performing surgeries and fraudulently billing the insurance provider, which insures taxi companies, Uber, and Lyft drivers.

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Sunny Hostin, 56, dismissed the lawsuit as a "frivolous" attempt by American Transit to avoid paying for legitimate medical procedures. Speaking to Page Six on Monday, she said, "This is a desperate attempt to avoid paying for medical and surgical procedures for people it insures who were in pain." She accused the insurer of harassing her family, saying, "American Transit is harassing me and my family in a frantic attempt to not pay its bills. Our family will not be intimidated and harassed. We remain unbowed."

Hostin also criticized the insurance company for what she described as a "disgusting media smear campaign" against her husband, herself, and their children, Gabriel, 22, and Paloma, 18.

She further alleged that American Transit is nearing bankruptcy, pointing to a 2014 lawsuit filed against the insurer by Uber Technologies and an investigation by New York State’s Department of Financial Services.

"Where I come from, American Transit will receive a PHD from FAFO University," Hostin said, referencing the phrase "F*** around and find out."

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According to the lawsuit, American Transit claims Dr. Hostin participated in a scheme to exploit New York's No-Fault Law, which mandates insurers to pay up to $50,000 for medical expenses for individuals injured in road accidents.

The insurer alleges that Dr. Hostin referred patients to Empire State Ambulatory Surgery Center in exchange for illegal kickbacks disguised as dividends or cash distributions.

The lawsuit cites two cases from January 2023 in which Dr. Hostin performed arthroscopic surgeries on patients involved in minor car accidents.

The insurer argues these procedures were unnecessary, claiming the injuries should have resolved with less invasive care.

Attorney William Natbony, representing American Transit, stated, "No-fault fraud is a huge problem in New York. American Transit filed a lawsuit as part of its statutory responsibility to fight such fraud."

The insurance company is seeking over $450 million in damages.

Dr. Hostin’s attorneys have strongly denied the allegations.

Mark Geragos, recently hired by the Hostins, threatened a $5 million countersuit against American Transit unless the company withdraws its case and issues an apology.

Sunny Hostin has stated that the amount could increase due to "reputational damage" caused by the lawsuit.

Dr. Hostin's attorney, Daniel Thwaites, called the lawsuit a "blanket, scattershot, meritless" case designed to intimidate doctors and reduce payouts for insured patients.

He described Dr. Hostin's record as "impeccable" and criticized the insurer for failing to communicate concerns before filing the lawsuit.

Geragos also referenced an 83-page report from New York State’s Department of Financial Services that outlined alleged financial improprieties by American Transit.

He claimed the insurer has a history of failing to adhere to reasonable claims-handling practices.

American Transit alleges that fraud related to New York’s No-Fault Law has destabilized the insurance market, increased premiums for taxi and delivery drivers, and caused significant financial harm.

The insurer claims that exploitation of the system has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent payments.

As the legal battle unfolds, both sides remain steadfast in their positions, with significant financial and reputational stakes on the line. The case is being heard in federal court in Brooklyn.

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