Hi, I have a physical therapy practice that uses independent contractors to carry out services.

Generally speaking, when you hire someone as an independent contractor, the contract comes with certain implied terms. In this case, you will have an argument that an implied term of your past hirings of these contractors was that they would do their work in accordance with customary professional standards and not perform services that were medically unnecessary. A better plan would be to reduce these expectations to writing and to impose on the contractor an express duty of reimbursement, including all of your costs and expenses of collecting from the contractor. An attorney can assist you in preparing such an agreement. Please call or email our office if we can help you. The statute of limitations on contract claims in New York is six years.