Chiropractor faces felony charge for fraudulent contract

A Murray chiropractor is facing a criminal charge for allegedly enticing a mentally disabled woman into a fraudulent contract and billing her medical credit account for more than $5,000 in treatments, some of which were not provided.

John O. Meadors was charged with one count of second-degree felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court on Monday. If convicted, he faces a possible punishment of up to 15 years in prison.

No hearings are yet set in the case, but a judge on Monday issued an arrest warrant for the 49-year-old Meadors, who lives in Highland.

A telephone message left at Meadors' Murray office after hours on Monday was not returned and no home telephone number listing could be found by The Salt Lake Tribune.

A website promoting Meadors' Utah Spine and Disc, Inc., clinic states he is the founder of Newlife Laser Centers, whose "mission" is to relieve chronic back pain for himself and for patients.

In court papers, Salt Lake County prosecutors say that in June a disabled woman who suffers from mental retardation and is unable to manage her finances or personal care was brought to Meadors' Murray office by a her legal guardian to seek treatment for severe headaches.

Prosecutors contend the woman was promised two free treatment sessions — an offer advertised on the clinic's website — and was told that Meadors could cure her pain. The woman was also given a credit application for a $6,000 line of credit with CreditCare, a service provided by GE Money Bank.

Court papers say the woman filled out the application without the assistance of her guardian. She also signed a contract for 20 treatment sessions with Meadors. The woman's guardian was not made aware of the contract or the line of credit, court papers say.

The disabled woman was treated by Meadors on three occasions, between June 29 and July 7, but got sick after the treatments and did not return for additional treatment.

Payment records show that on July 6, Meadors was paid $5,250 by CreditCare for treatments provided to the disabled woman, including the promised free treatments and additional treatments that were not provided.

Court papers say Meadors has not refunded the payments, despite being told that the patient is disabled and that the contract was fraudulent.

Prosecutors also say that GE Money Bank is currently seeking a collection from the disabled victim for more than $6,000.

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