Orange County Drops Charges Against Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Orange County prosecutors today dismissed charges against a Newport Beach-based plastic surgeon accused of performing medically unnecessary procedures to collect insurance money.

Dr. Jay Calvert, who also has an office in Beverly Hills, was charged with medical insurance fraud in November, but Deputy District Attorney Shaddi Kamiabipour moved today to have the case against the physician dropped, according to Calvert's attorney, Allan Stokke.

"I am satisfied that this thorough investigation into my practice has yielded a favorable, complete and just result," Calvert stated in a prepared release.

Stokke said his client was "ecstatic" at the resolution of the case.

"That kind of charge can ruin a person's life," Stokke said. "Guilty or innocent it can be an absolute death sentence for a person's career; so to have it fairly quickly dismissed is an extremely important matter for a well- respected doctor."

Prosecutors dropped the case because of "insufficient evidence," Stokke said.

Messages left with Kamiabipour were not immediately returned.

The doctor's accuser said he went to Calvert for a rhinoplasty in 2009, but he alleged the surgeon performed more unnecessary procedures that led to long-term medical issues.

--City News Service