In a settlement that involves paying $1.5 million to avoid prison, the principal owners of a medical management company pleaded no contest to felony charges related to illegally acquiring patients in workers' compensation cases and submitting more than $60 million in medical bills.

Premier Medical Management Systems' President David Wayne Fish, 47, of San Diego, Calif., and former attorney Birger Greg Bacino, 50, of Rancho Santa Fe, were each charged with one felony count of compensation or inducement for referring clients. Premier was also charged in the complaint for submitting a false and fraudulent workers' compensation claim and for filing a false tax return.

"These defendants essentially served as brokers for so-called workers' compensation professionals, including doctors and attorneys," District Attorney Steve Cooley said. "In addition to victimizing the workers' compensation system, these defendants preyed on unsuspecting workers."