SohoMD, the New York-based virtual mental health practice, is fighting on three legal fronts as of mid-2026: a federal employment discrimination lawsuit in Connecticut where the company and its co-founders have already been defaulted, a proposed wage-theft class action in New York state court, and an appeal in a bitter dispute between co-founders Dr. Edward Ratush and Dr. Jacques Jospitre Jr. The same two corporate entities, Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC and SoHo Managing Company, and both doctors personally, appear as defendants in each of the employee cases.
Kempner Federal Case Heading Toward Default Judgment
Former employee Robin Kempner sued SohoMD on November 10, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, alleging employment discrimination. The case is before Judge Omar A. Williams.1Justia Dockets. Kempner v. Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC Et Al
Kempner named Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC; SoHo Managing Company; Dr. Jospitre; and Dr. Ratush as defendants. Several Engage PEO-related entities were initially included but were dismissed without prejudice on April 6, 2026, by joint stipulation.1Justia Dockets. Kempner v. Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC Et Al
None of the remaining defendants answered. On May 8, 2026, the court granted Kempner’s motion for default entry under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) against both SohoMD entities and both doctors individually. Kempner was given until June 8, 2026, to move for default judgment, with the court warning that the case would be dismissed if the motion was not filed by that date.1Justia Dockets. Kempner v. Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC Et Al
A default entry is a formal recognition that the defendants failed to appear or respond. If a default judgment follows, the court can award damages to Kempner without the defendants ever contesting the claims on the merits.
Camacho Wage-Theft Class Action in New York
On September 4, 2025, former workers Cara P. Camacho and Miranda Maldonado filed suit in New York County Supreme Court on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of individuals who provided services to SohoMD within the prior six years. The complaint alleges wage theft.2Trellis Law. Camacho Et Al v. Soho Medical Doctors PLLC Et Al
The Camacho suit names 14 defendants: Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC (d/b/a SohoMD); SoHo Managing Company (d/b/a SohoMD); S2 HR Solutions 1A, LLC and S2 HR Solutions 2D, LLC (both doing business as Engage PEO); Engage PEO, Inc.; and Drs. Ratush and Jospitre personally, among others. The inclusion of the Engage PEO entities in both the Camacho and Kempner cases suggests SohoMD used a professional employer organization for payroll or HR functions, though court records do not spell out that arrangement.2Trellis Law. Camacho Et Al v. Soho Medical Doctors PLLC Et Al
The case is before Judge Judy H. Kim and remains active. Recent activity includes a plaintiffs’ motion related to discovery and an order to show cause filed by defense counsel Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP concerning attorney disqualification or substitution. Motion hearings are scheduled through February 2027.2Trellis Law. Camacho Et Al v. Soho Medical Doctors PLLC Et Al
Ratush v. Jospitre: The Co-Founder Dispute
The employee cases sit on top of a fracture between the two doctors who built SohoMD. In July 2024, Dr. Ratush sued Dr. Jospitre in the Commercial Division of the New York County Supreme Court, bringing claims both individually and derivatively on behalf of Soho Medical Doctors, PLLC. The case was framed as a contract and commercial dispute.3UniCourt. Edward Ratush M.D. v. Jacques Jospitre Jr. M.D.
Docket entries reference March 2024 email exchanges apparently offered as evidence, indicating the conflict predated the filing. Ratush filed an amended complaint in August 2024 and sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Jospitre. By July 2025, Ratush was asking the court to enforce a settlement agreement, indicating a deal that later broke down. A money judgment was entered in August 2025.3UniCourt. Edward Ratush M.D. v. Jacques Jospitre Jr. M.D.
The case was closed and dismissed at the trial level, but in November 2025 Jospitre’s attorney filed a notice of appeal. The full substance of the allegations between the two doctors is not laid out in the available docket entries, though the filings point to disputes over management of the practice and contractual obligations.3UniCourt. Edward Ratush M.D. v. Jacques Jospitre Jr. M.D.
Litigation Named as a Use of Investor Funds
While these cases progressed, SohoMD ran a Regulation CF crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder (SEC File Number 020-36319) that opened September 3, 2025, and closed April 30, 2026. The offering sought between $50,000 and $1 million through SAFE notes at a $60 million valuation cap.4KingsCrowd. SohoMD on Wefunder 2025 By May 2026, the campaign had raised $117,417 from 66 investors.5Wefunder. SohoMD
The company listed “partner litigation” alongside payroll, financial audits, and working capital as intended uses of the proceeds, and flagged partner litigation as an investor risk factor.4KingsCrowd. SohoMD on Wefunder 2025 The campaign identifies Dr. Jospitre as CEO and founder; Dr. Ratush is not mentioned in the campaign materials.5Wefunder. SohoMD
Where the Cases Stand
The Kempner federal case is on the verge of a default judgment against both SohoMD entities and both doctors personally. The Camacho class action, potentially covering six years of workers, is moving through discovery in New York state court with hearings scheduled into 2027. The co-founder litigation, closed at the trial level, is now on appeal.