It's looking like the Patel case may end in a mistrial, The Advocate reported today.
The case of a cardiologist facing federal health-care fraud charges was teetering on the edge of a mistrial Monday as jury deliberations stretched into day eight. Jurors sent out two notes during the day stating they could not reach a verdict in the case against Dr. Mehmood M. Patel, who is accused of billing insurers more than $2 million for unnecessary heart procedures. U.S. District Judge Tucker Melancon instructed the jury late Monday to return today to continue deliberations in a weeks-long trial that began in October. If the jury remains deadlocked, the case will end in a mistrial, meaning Patel would remain free but prosecutors would have the option of bringing the doctor back to trial.
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