Sunny Hostin, co-host of *The View*, is publicly defending her husband, Dr. Emmanuel Hostin, 

who is facing a fraud lawsuit from American Transit, an insurance company serving rideshare drivers. 

The lawsuit, filed in February 2024, alleges that Dr. Hostin committed fraud in his role 

as a physician at his New York-based orthopedic and sports medicine clinic. 

The claims involve accusations of fraudulent medical billing related to surgeries and treatments at his clinic.

In response to the lawsuit, both Sunny and the couple’s attorney, Mark Geragos, have vehemently denied the allegations, calling them baseless. 

They assert that American Transit is attempting to avoid covering legitimate medical expenses for patients by targeting Dr. Hostin, who has provided care to those insured by the company.

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Hostin and his clinic, Hostin Orthopaedics, knowingly provided fraudulent healthcare services and surgeries, including arthroscopic procedures, to patients covered by American Transit. According to the 698-page complaint filed in December, the insurance company claims that Dr. Hostin billed American Transit for services that were either unnecessary or inflated, in exchange for kickbacks or other forms of compensation disguised as dividends.

However, Sunny Hostin is steadfast in her defense of her husband. In a statement provided to PEOPLE, the 56-year-old TV personality expressed frustration over the lawsuit, accusing American Transit of using her husband’s name to further their own agenda. “American Transit is trying to avoid paying for medical and surgical procedures for people it insured who were in pain,” she said. She also suggested that the company is on the verge of bankruptcy and using the lawsuit as a way to manipulate public opinion. 

Sunny went further in her criticism, claiming that the insurance company is exploiting her celebrity status to launch a media smear campaign against Dr. Hostin. “They are using my celebrity to spread false and defamatory claims,” she said. “Our family will not be intimidated. We remain unbowed.” She went on to announce plans to file a $5 million counter-lawsuit against American Transit for defamation, a figure that could rise depending on the ongoing reputational damage caused by the company’s actions.

The lawsuit filed by American Transit also highlights New York State’s No-Fault (Personal Injury Protection) law, which provides up to $50,000 in coverage for medical expenses and other necessary costs related to injuries from car accidents. American Transit alleges that Dr. Hostin took advantage of this law to facilitate fraudulent claims and create a pattern of abuse that has become endemic in the state. The company has accused him of inflating bills or submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement through various entities, including Surgicore ASCs.

Sunny Hostin’s statement was clear in its demand for accountability. She called on American Transit to “withdraw these false allegations, pay my husband what he is owed, and issue a public apology.” She also condemned the company for contributing to the dysfunction of the U.S. healthcare system by using unscrupulous tactics to avoid paying for medical services. “Insurance companies like American Transit make an already broken healthcare system nearly impossible for Americans to navigate by engaging in despicable tactics like harassing doctors,” she concluded, adding a pointed remark: “Where I come from, American Transit will receive a PhD from FAFO University.” (FAFO stands for a colloquial phrase meaning “f— around and find out.”)

The case has yet to be resolved, and American Transit has not responded to requests for comment from PEOPLE. Meanwhile, Dr. Hostin and his legal team remain firm in their belief that the lawsuit is without merit and that the insurance company is attempting to avoid fulfilling its financial responsibilities to policyholders by going after healthcare providers. 

As the legal battle unfolds, both Sunny and Emmanuel Hostin are determined to fight back against what they perceive as unjust accusations. The outcome of this case could have significant implications not only for the Hostins but also for the broader healthcare and insurance industries, as questions about fraud, medical billing, and insurance practices continue to spark debate.

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