Steven L. Simas

Simas & Associates, Ltd.

11573 Los Osos Valley Road
Suite B
San Luis Obispo, California 93405

888-999-0008

Business, Commercial, Contract, Discrimination, Education, Employment, Government, Healthcare, Legal Malpractice, Sexual Harassment, Wage and Hour, Workplace

  

Steve Simas is the founder of Simas & Associates, and specializes in administrative, government, healthcare, and employment law. He has represented clients before state and local government agencies since 1990, and has tried over 100 contested adjudicatory hearings in administrative matters under the California Administrative Procedure Act, in Superior Court and in Federal Court.

Mr. Simas represents physicians, physical therapists, nurses, engineers, real estate brokers, contractors, attorneys, and most other professionals regulated and licensed by the State of California. Since 1990, he has represented a variety of healthcare providers, including physicians, in the areas of licensing and regulatory disputes, medical staff credentialing, health plan provider member disputes and employment disputes.

 

Specific Experience in Healthcare Law

Throughout his career, Steve Simas has practiced healthcare and administrative law commencing immediately upon graduation from law school when he joined the Sacramento healthcare and administrative law firm Turner and Sullivan. Mr. Simas began representing physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals and continues to do so to this day. While serving as a Deputy Attorney General, in 1996, Mr. Simas argued before the California Supreme Court in a notable decision entitled Paris v. Zolin (1996) 12 Cal.4th 839) in which the Court was construing a section of the Administrative Procedure Act involving the enforcement of subpoenas in administrative licensing hearings. Focusing on both administrative adjudication by state licensing boards and other healthcare tribunals, Mr. Simas also has over 20 years experience in both prosecuting and defending petitions for writ of mandate involving legal challenges to the final decision of an administrative agency or body.

 

Since the time Steve left the Office of the Attorney General in 2001, his practice has focused extensively on healthcare law in several areas. In 2001, he joined Nossaman LLP where he practiced for two years before founding Simas & Associates, Ltd. Steve has represented hundreds of healthcare professionals, including physicians, in a variety of legal matters ranging from investigations by the Medical Board of California, Medicare and Medi-Cal, contested disciplinary actions brought by the Medical Board of California and other healthcare licensing agencies, and in medical staff privileges hearings, and disputes with health insurers regarding provider status.

 

Steve is a member of the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys and has completed the June 2, 2012 Hearing Officer Training.

 

Specific Experience in Medical Staff Hearings

Steve Simas has been involved in medical staff hearings since 1990, and has focused his practice extensively on representing physicians before the Medical Board and in medical staff hearings since returning to private practice in 2001. He has served as the physician’s counsel numerous times, including in medical staff hearings tried to conclusion, and has settled and resolved several medical staff cases throughout Northern and Central California. Finally, Steve has represented physicians in challenging the final determination of the medical staff by filing petitions for writ of mandate in the Superior Court.

 

Other Relevant Experience

Steve Simas has defended healthcare professionals in administrative hearings since 1990, which has given him extensive experience in presenting medical evidence, utilizing experts, and developing knowledge of the delivery of healthcare services. In addition, Steve represents the California Physical Therapy Association and the California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association in regulatory issues involving scope of practice, the delivery of healthcare services and related issues. In fact, Steve served as expert witness in United States District Court regarding the scope of practice of chiropractors, and testified as an expert in Orange County Superior Court regarding the scope of physical therapy practice. In addition, Steve serves as a Hearing Officer and presides over contested administrative hearings before the San Luis Obispo County Civil Service Commission and has presided over proceedings in the Sacramento Superior Court as a temporary judge in the Small Claims and Traffic Court Divisions.

Professional Affiliations

California Society for Healthcare Attorneys | California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals | American Veterinary Medical Legal Association | Sacramento County Bar Association, Administrative Law Section, President | San Luis Obispo County Bar Association |

Council on Litigation Management

 

Education

Juris Doctorate, University of California, Davis, 1990

BS, Business Administration, California Polytechnic State University, 1987

 

Admitted

California State Bar, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, United States District Court, Eastern  and Central Districts of California

 

Experience

2002-Present      Founder, President and Managing Attorney of Simas & Associates, Ltd., government, administrative and healthcare law firm

2000-2002           Nossaman LLP – represented healthcare professionals and organizations in administrative hearings, arbitrations in state and federal court

1999-2000           Office of the California Attorney General – served as Deputy Attorney General representing state agencies and personnel in employment discrimination litigation, public contracts litigation and administrative licensing matters

1997-1999           Legal Counsel to Public Employment Relations Board

1996-1997           California State Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment –Chief Consultant

1993-1996           Office of California Attorney General Deputy Attorney General

1992-1993           Holderness and Associates, representing clients in administrative and civil litigation, public contracts disputes, and appeals

1989-1992           Private practice – law clerk and associate attorney at Turner and Sullivan, one of Sacramento’s original government administrative law firms. 

Sacramento Office

North Pointe Business Centre
3835 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 228
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel. 916.789.9800
Fax. 916.789.9801

 

San Luis Obispo Office

11573 Los Osos Valley Road, Suite B
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Tel. 805.547.9300
Fax. 805.547.9302

 

Email: [email protected]