Court documents have revealed some shocking news about former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Shannen Doherty: the actress was recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer but could have been diagnosed earlier had her “negligent” management firm not forgotten to pay her premiums, leaving her with no health insurance.
Or at least that’s what she’s claiming. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Doherty launched a lawsuit against her management firm, Tanner Mainstain, alleging that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, with the cancer spreading during a time she was uninsured. In court documents filed today, Doherty insists it was the firm’s job to ensure “timely payment” of her medical insurance premiums through her membership in the Screen Actors Guild.
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After she was effectively fired by the management firm, Doherty initially had no idea she had no health insurance. Once she discovered the premiums hadn’t been paid, she re-enrolled with SAG insurance; only then did she begin to see doctors — which is when she received her cancer diagnosis. Doherty is claiming that had she been insured, she would have been able to receive the diagnosis earlier than she did, and potentially be able to treat it in a far less drastic manner than she’s facing now.
“Plaintiff was also informed that, had she been insured and able to visit her doctor, the cancer could potentially have been stopped, thus obviating the need for the future treatment (including mastectomy and chemotherapy) that Plaintiff will likely have to suffer through now,” reads the claim.
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In addition, Doherty is also claiming the firm is notorious for “fleecing actors and entertainment industry professionals,” and she alleges breach of contract, fiduciary duty, conversion, negligence and more.
“After gaining control of all of their clients’ cash and assets, they find a way to lose it, sometimes by gross incompetence, sometimes by self-dealing and outright theft,” says Doherty’s lawsuit. “Along the way, they habitually deceive their clients, going so far as to set up bogus transactions, to conceal their misdeeds, errors and omissions. The firm has hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.”
Doherty is alleging that the firm indulged in a manner of financial shenanigans, including “strange and unexplained transfers” to unidentified individuals, overcharging management fees, missing a tax payment (resulting in subsequent tax liens), and “wrongfully diverted insurance settlement money over property damage from a storm.”
Meanwhile, a rep for Tanner Mainstain has released a statement on the firm’s behalf claiming the allegations in Doherty’s lawsuit are “patently false.”
“Tanner Mainstain is saddened to learn that Ms. Doherty is suffering from cancer and wishes her a full recovery,” reads the statement. “However, the claim that Tanner Mainstain caused her to be uninsured, prevented her from seeking medical care, or somehow contributed to her cancer is patently false. Tanner Mainstain will aggressively defend all of Ms. Doherty’s claims in court.”
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