Richard Willich

Back in the mid 1960s, retired U.S. Marine Lt. Colonel Richard Willich made many “hard helicopter landings” as a platoon leader in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam, but he notes that when his helicopter touched down twice last month in the baseball field at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, it was easy — in fact, it was enjoyable. “It was great getting to know the boys and letting them know how important they are as individuals, now and for the future,” said Willich. Read More…

Officer Manny Gonzales presented Richard with this poster from an event held Saturday, November 21, 2009.  Richard was one of the major sponsors for a Harley-Davidson ride to benefit Special Olympics Florida.

MDI Holdings said it won an important victory in its case against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Nov. 3 ruled that MDI, based in Ponte Vedra, had the right to bring its lawsuit to recover payments — a right that MDI argued it had been denied in lower court decisions based on judicial immunity and related procedure. The California Department of Corrections declined to comment.

MDI Government Healthcare Services, an MDI subsidiary that contracts health care providers to treat inmates, had been fighting the courts for its right to sue the California corrections department and its court-appointed federal receiver, a judge.

At the heart of the case is a contract dispute in which MDI alleges the corrections department failed to pay for services per its contract after its receiver prematurely ended the contract. But two federal district courts said in previous rulings that judicial immunity barred MDI from bringing its case, and that MDI failed to get approval to bring its suit as required to bring the case at all. Read More…

Richard Willich is removing slash pines, planting trees for a habitat for native birds.

A Nocatee businessman who couldn’t get permission to keep an outdoor gun range on his company’s property has gotten permission to cut down slash pines from a designated wetland there and create a bird park.

The St. Johns River Water Management District granted Richard Willich, president of MDI Holdings, a standard general environmental resource permit recently after months of anticipation, he said.

The permit will allow the removal of the pines from 4 acres on his property west of Ponte Vedra Beach, north of Nocatee Parkway off County Road 210.

“It was much to my surprise,” said Willich. “I was told by my civil engineers that this was going to be a long shot because it’s a designated wetland. We are all thrilled. It doesn’t happen every day.”

His plan calls for removing the pines and planting 118 bald cypress trees, 117 blackgum trees and other trees and plants that will mimic the natural habitat for Florida native birds in the wetland area. The project will take up to six months.

Willich had heard about the strict conditions and technical requirements that precede getting a permit to build on a wetland. The Water Management District wanted to know where Willich’s dredged materials would be disposed, how he would prevent discharge from them, the types of equipment that will be used, construction technique and other factors. Read More…

MDI has right to sue over contract dispute; Court upholds MDI’s right to due process

PONTE VEDRA, Fla., November 3, 2009 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held that Medical Development International (MDI) had the right to bring its lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and CDCR’s court-appointed federal Receiver to recover payments for provider payments made to California Providers on behalf of CDCR and the receiver.  MDI sued the CDCR and the Receiver in connection with the lack of reimbursement payments made by MDI and due under a contract performed by MDI in 2006-2007.  The disputes over reimbursements made to California Providers caused MDI to file lawsuits both in federal courts and California state court to recover MDI funds expended on behalf of CDCR and Receiver. MDI was strong in its conviction that it had a right to due process and spent more than a year fighting for its right to sue.

On October 30, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Medical Development International had the right to bring its lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and CDCR’s court-appointed federal Receiver to recover payments for provider payments made to California Providers on behalf of CDCR and the receiver.  MDI sued the CDCR and the Receiver in connection with the lack of reimbursement payments made by MDI and due under a contract performed by MDI in 2006-2007.  The disputes over reimbursement caused MDI to file lawsuits both in federal courts and California state court to recover MDI funds expended on behalf of CDCR and Receiver.

At the trial court level, two federal district courts in northern California dismissed MDI’s lawsuits ruling that MDI failed to gain approval from the Receiver’s appointing court before bringing suit, and that judicial immunity also barred actions against the federal Receiver.  MDI took a consolidated appeal of these decisions to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In a unanimous published decision, the Ninth Circuit held that neither the Receiver nor CDCR were immune from MDI’s suit, and remanded the case back to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California for trial.  The Ninth Circuit’s decision provides important protection to contractors with public entities under receivership, which is an increasingly common remedy employed by courts to address systemic issues.

MDI president Richard Willich recognizes the importance of the decision, “The Ninth circuit’s opinion affirms the rights of all individuals and contractors who have contracts with the CDCR.  It is clear that the CDCR and Receiver are accountable under their contracts with individuals and service providers.  Rest assured that MDI shall aggressively prosecute its case.”

Download Press Release