Two medical offices sue medical group over computer programs

MARTINSBURG - Two Berkeley County medical offices have filed a suit against a medical group, seeking $75,000 in damages.

The Center for Orthopedic Excellence and Tri-State Surgical Center filed a suit June 18 in Berkeley Circuit Court against Bond Medical Group and Bond Technologies. The companies claim they suffered annoyance and inconvenience as well as lost money because of the product Bond sold them.

According to the suit, Bond Medical Group has software, "Bond Clinician," an electronic health records program, and "Bond Clinician Practice Management System," a billing program, which is marketed to medical offices.

During a conference in Baltimore, Bond was a vendor and met with employees from the Center for Orthopedic Excellence and Tri-State Surgical Center. The suit says the representatives for the plaintiffs were told the software could help eliminate the routine internal use of paper in the offices.

The suit says Bond also said the software would increase the efficiency and accuracy of billing. The plaintiffs were also told the software would work in an orthopedic and surgical practice.

The representatives for the plaintiffs decided to enter a contract with Bond. However, after paying for the software, they found out the software did not perform like they were told it would.

The Center for Orthopedic Excellence demands the return of $25,476.75 and Tri-State demands the return of $20,317.75.

Also, they seek an amount less than $75,000 to compensate them for their injuries.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs are D. Frank Hill III of Shepherdstown and Donald L. Stennett of Charleston. The case has been assigned to Judge Christopher Wilkes.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-511