Court Orders Client to Pay Medical Rights Firm After Denying Contract
A senior registrar rejected a client's claim of a forged signature and ordered him to pay NIS 30,000 (approximately $8,100 USD) plus legal fees to a medical rights company, Orpaz Realization of Medical Rights. The client had initially paid NIS 5,265 (approximately $1,420 USD) to the company for services to help him claim disability benefits. During the process, he provided the company with his personal login details for the National Insurance Institute website and submitted his medical documents.
The company successfully secured a 91% permanent disability rating for the client and an income tax exemption. However, the client refused to pay the agreed-upon fee, claiming the power of attorney and payment commitment were not signed by him and that his signature was forged. He also argued that he and his daughters handled most of the case, and the company did not provide the promised services.
Senior Registrar Helena Boruchovitz Litvin dismissed the forgery claim, noting the client did not present a handwriting expert to support his assertion. The court acknowledged that the client had met with a company representative at his home, paid the initial fee, and provided his National Insurance Institute login credentials. He also admitted to visiting the company's offices and receiving materials for submission, as well as explanations from a company representative.
The court ruled that the client's claim of a "mistake in the profitability of the transaction" was not grounds for canceling the agreement, especially since the services and the agreed-upon outcome were delivered. The client had expected to receive monetary compensation beyond the tax exemption, which he stated he could not utilize as he was unable to work.
The lawsuit was accepted, and the case was returned to the Enforcement and Collection Bureau. In addition to the NIS 30,000 fee, the client was ordered to pay NIS 1,500 (approximately $400 USD) in expenses and NIS 6,000 (approximately $1,620 USD) for the company's legal fees, including VAT.
