It seems 2024 has already delivered its first tabloid-worthy scandal, with Dr. Emmanuel “Manny” Hostin, husband of The View co-host Sunny Hostin, landing in hot legal water. The prominent orthopedic surgeon has been named as one of nearly 200 defendants in a sweeping federal RICO case alleging insurance fraud in New York—one of the largest such cases ever filed in the state.
At the heart of the case is an accusation that Hostin and others profited from fraudulent medical practices, including unnecessary surgeries, while billing insurers under New York’s expansive no-fault insurance system. The lawsuit, brought by American Transit Insurance Company, claims Hostin knowingly performed arthroscopic surgeries on patients involved in minor car accidents, allegedly without pursuing less invasive treatment options first.
Husband of Sunny Hostin from The View, has been arrested for alleged Federal Insurance Fraud.
This is the largest RICO case ever filed in New York.
Well well well. pic.twitter.com/H0dD6BzLpU
— Sara Rose (@saras76) January 8, 2025
The insurance company further alleges that Hostin received illegal kickbacks disguised as dividends from the Empire State Ambulatory Surgery Center in exchange for referring patients. Hostin, who operates his private practice near Grand Central Terminal, has affiliations with several prestigious hospitals, including Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill.
Sunny Hostin’s husband has been named in a massive insurance fraud RICO case. WACTH: Hostin implicates her husband in such a scheme: “[He] operates on someone even though they don’t have insurance and then has to sue health insurance companies to get paid for the work…” pic.twitter.com/P2ZvLdmhzt
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 7, 2025
In a statement, American Transit did not mince words, calling no-fault insurance fraud “rampant” in New York and accusing unscrupulous providers of exploiting the system to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Under New York’s no-fault law, insurers are required to cover medical expenses of up to $50,000 per accident victim—an amount that increases to $200,000 for taxi and ride-share drivers, making those policies especially attractive targets for fraud.
Hostin’s attorney, Daniel Thwaites, was quick to dismiss the allegations, calling the lawsuit a baseless and desperate move by a struggling insurance carrier. Thwaites described his client’s medical reputation as “impeccable” and characterized the lawsuit as an intimidation tactic meant to deny payments to legitimate claims.
The timing of the lawsuit has raised eyebrows, as Hostin has long been a well-regarded figure in his field. He is also no stranger to media attention, thanks to his 25-year marriage to Sunny Hostin. The couple, who share two children, live in a sprawling 10-bedroom estate in Purchase, New York, and have often shared details of their personal lives on air. Sunny has spoken publicly about their family’s struggles, including the tragic loss of Manny’s physician parents to COVID-19 in late 2020.
The lawsuit paints a different picture of the celebrated surgeon. American Transit claims two of Hostin’s patients from early 2023 underwent surgeries for “low-impact” collisions that should have caused no more than soft-tissue injuries, suggesting the operations were unnecessary and performed purely for profit. The insurer is seeking $450 million in damages to recover what it claims were fraudulent payouts.
Looks like she going to be married to a CONVICTED FELON!!! . Oh the irony. Seems like everyone that goes after the president elect ends up screwed one way or another https://t.co/eC8yirgBTt
— Deon Joseph (@ofcrdeonjoseph) January 8, 2025
American Transit’s legal maneuvering has not gone unnoticed by critics. Some see the lawsuit as a calculated effort to pressure smaller medical practices into settling rather than enduring protracted litigation. Attorneys familiar with similar cases have labeled the lawsuit a “hail Mary” by the insurer to cut its losses in a market where livery vehicle policies are notoriously expensive to maintain.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the allegations against Dr. Hostin will hold water or whether they will be dismissed as overreach by an embattled insurance company. For now, the lawsuit casts a shadow over both Hostin’s career and his family’s public image, ensuring that 2025 will be a year to watch for this high-profile household.
