UnitedHealth Group has retained prominent defamation law firm Clare Locke to address social media posts that the company claims contain false information about their practices. This move comes two months after the death of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive Brian Thompson.
The Virginia-based Clare Locke, known for representing Dominion Voting Systems in its successful lawsuit against Fox News, describes itself as specializing in complex defamation cases and high-profile reputational defense.
The firm's involvement came to light after Dr. Elisabeth Potter, a plastic surgeon, shared on Instagram that UnitedHealthcare allegedly contacted her during surgery regarding a breast cancer patient's overnight stay approval. Potter posted what appeared to be a letter from Clare Locke demanding she retract her statements and issue a public apology.
UnitedHealthcare strongly denies Potter's allegations, stating they would never request a physician to interrupt surgery and had previously approved the overnight stay in question. A company spokesperson emphasized that interrupting patient care for insurance matters would create safety risks.
The insurance giant has also taken action regarding other social media criticism. The company contacted the Securities and Exchange Commission about a post from billionaire Bill Ackman questioning the company's profitability and claims handling practices. The post, which has since been deleted, reportedly led to a 4.3% drop in UnitedHealth's stock price.
Clare Locke, founded by married couple Tom Clare and Libby Locke, previously helped secure a $787.5 million settlement for Dominion Voting Systems in their defamation case against Fox News.
The firm's hiring reflects UnitedHealth's aggressive stance against what it considers false and damaging social media commentary about its business practices and reputation.