EDUCATION: Successor Liability Issues When Purchasing a Physician Practice

If you’re purchasing a physician practice or any other type of Florida healthcare entity you must ensure that you have structured the acquisition in such a way that you are not inheriting the liabilities of the previous owner. To do so, you must conduct a thorough due diligence process and draft the appropriate agreements. In Florida, a purchaser is generally not liable for the debts and liabilities of the seller unless the purchaser expressly (or impliedly) agrees to assume such debts and liabilities. Successor liability has the potential to become an issue when you purchase any existing company. The purchaser has the option to limit the assumption of liabilities of the seller by structuring the acquisition in a specific way. By doing so, the purchaser won’t be responsible for paying the seller’s debts and liabilities. Typically, in a “stock” purchase you are responsible for all liabilities and debts of the company, while in an “asset” purchase you are only assuming those liabilities and debts that you specifically agree to assume. It is critically important that you hire an experienced business law attorney who has drafted these agreements specifically for healthcare entities. This attorney must conduct a thorough due diligence process which includes a lien and title search, review of recorded business loans and determine whether there are any outstanding state sales and gross receipt taxes. Web: www.JonesHealthLaw.com Phone: (305)877-5054 Instagram: @JonesHealthLaw Facebook: @JonesHealthLaw Youtube: @JonesHealthLaw