FAYETTEVILLE -- A court ruling in a civil case against an embattled Rogers doctor could give more former patients a chance to have their legal claims heard in court.
Dr. Brian Hyatt and Northwest Medical Center are currently being sued in both Benton and Washington counties by more than 65 former patients. Some of those patients are claiming false imprisonment, which has a one-year statute of limitations.
But Washington County Circuit Judge Doug Martin on Tuesday ruled that a case could proceed despite being filed outside the statute of limitations, based on fraudulent concealment.
Fraudulent concealment means a defendant intentionally misled, misrepresented or concealed material facts to prevent a person from knowing they have legal options available and that the person suffered damages as a result.
Martin's order is part of an agreement between the parties. One of the agreements was that the defendants would not raise a statute of limitations defense.
Hyatt and Northwest Medical Center have denied all allegations against them.
Hyatt is also facing criminal charges in Pulaski County.
Hyatt, 51, was formally charged with two counts of Medicaid fraud in late November by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. He pleaded not guilty in January.
Hyatt now has an omnibus hearing scheduled for Aug. 30 and a jury trial tentatively set to begin Sept. 17, according to court records.
The charges stem from claims between Jan. 1 and April 29, 2022, at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, during which time Hyatt made fraudulent Medicaid claims in excess of $300,000, according to Griffin.
Class A felonies are punishable by six to 30 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines.