On the heels of his ouster as chairman of a medical practice management company, Frank Mullins now faces removal as trustee over his nephew’s trust.
A petition was filed Wednesday, July 20, in Richmond County Superior Court on behalf of Houston Mullins, the son of the late Dr. Robert “Fred” Mullins who furthered the care and treatment of burn and wounds patients at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center.
A company Dr. Mullins and Dr. Abu Zaheed Hassan formed, the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America, and its former management and accounting firm, Medical Collections Systems, worked together until Dr. Mullins died June 14, 2020, and his brother Dewitt Franklin “Frank” Mullins stepped into the role of administrator of the estate.
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Frank Mullins had been the chairman of the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America until July 7 when an emergency court order appointed a new temporary chief executive officer.
Frank Mullins is also the trustee for trusts Dr. Mullins established for his family members. In the petition filed this week, Houston Mullins seeks the ability to remove the trustee. Among the assets of the trust his father established on Jan. 1, 2017, is 25% ownership of the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.
The petition has been assigned to Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig who is presiding over litigation involving the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America, and Dr. Hassan and Susan Bennett who owns a share of the that company. Bennett also owns the Medical Collections Systems. Bennett’s management and accounting firm contends Frank Mullins canceled its contract but still owes nearly $4 million for services already provided.
According to statements made at a hearing earlier this month, the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of American managed specialized burn and wound care centers across the county and took in $29 million a year in revenue. Bennett’s attorney Jack Long said under Frank Mullins’ leadership revenues sank 30% as medical practices and employees left the company.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
