The View co-host Sunny Hostin's surgeon husband has found himself in the hot seat in the massive lawsuit accusing nearly 200 healthcare providers of insurance fraud. Dr. Emmanuel Hostin defiantly called himself the victim of a frivolous 'smear campaign' last month after he was accused of providing 'fraudulent medical services' in 'exchange for kickbacks', in a complaint filed by American Transit Insurance Company in December.

But the orthopedic surgeon now finds himself increasingly isolated after the vast majority of defendants have now offered to settle their cases, according to a new court filing obtained by DailyMail.com. American Transit, which insures taxi company and Uber and Lyft drivers, announced last Monday that more than 141 of the 186 defendants named in the suit have agreed in principle to settle one of the largest RICO cases ever filed in New York.

The papers, filed by the law firm Manning Kass, did not specify which defendants offered to settle. Dr. Hostin has until February 10 to respond to the legal complaint. Sunny Hostin's surgeon husband, Dr. Emmanuel Hostin is one of 200 defendants accused of fraudulently billing insurance company American Transit for unnecessary medical services in exchange for kickbacks. The lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com, identifies Dr. Hostin  as owner of Hostin Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, located in midtown Manhattan.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Hostin family lawyer Mark Geragos maintained that the surgeon had not been involved in any wrongdoing and demanded American Transit issue an apology to Dr. Hostin and his family. 'Dr. Emmanuel Hostin should not have been named as a defendant in this lawsuit and American Transit must dismiss him from the lawsuit with prejudice,' said Geragos. 'American Transit must offer a full and unequivocal apology to Dr. Hostin and his wife, Sunny Hostin and their two children for this unfortunate mistake.

'American Transit must also pay Dr. Hostin what he is owed for his medical services to the insureds and substantial damages must be paid to Dr. Hostin and his family for reputational damage and emotional distress caused before they will consider any settlement.'. DailyMail.com broke the news last month that Hostin and his medical practice had been named in the lawsuit and accused of getting kickbacks for performing surgeries and submitting fraudulent bills.

'Hostin knowingly provided fraudulent medical and other healthcare services including arthroscopic surgeries,' the lawsuit, filed on December 17, claims. American Transit was then billed 'in exchange for kickbacks and/or other compensation which were disguised as dividends or other cash distributions'. American Transit, the largest insurer of taxis and Ubers in New York City , is seeking more than $450million in damages in one of the largest RICO cases ever filed in New York.

Commenting on the lawsuit, the Hostins initially went on the offense. Another Hostin attorney, Daniel Thwaites, told DailyMail.com in early January that his client 'denies each and every allegation' and called the lawsuit a 'blanket, scattershot, meritless lawsuit by a near-bankrupt insurance carrier'. 'It is meant to intimidate and harass doctors from collecting for care given to American Transit insureds and their passengers,' Thwaites said.

He said Hostin has an 'impeccable' record, adding: 'American Transit has rushed into the lawsuit without ever conducting an examination of Dr. Hostin or expressing any concerns to his lawyers. 'The real story here is about an insurance carrier abusing the legal system to limit and restrict health care benefits to its insureds and their passengers, and write off its proper obligations,' Thwaites said.

Sonny Hostin, co-host of The View with a background in law, later issued a statement to Page Six claiming American Transit 'used my celebrity status to start a disgusting media smear campaign against my husband,' and 'is harassing me and my family in a frantic attempt to not pay its bills'. According to the suit, Dr. Hostin allegedly provided 'fraudulent' healthcare services in exchange for 'kickbacks' for his 'investment' in the surgical centers where he performed the medical procedures.

Dr. Hostin and his practice, Hostin Orthopaedics, were named as entities that were allegedly providing arthroscopic procedures without waiting to see if the accident victims recovered with more conservative treatment. While the power couple has vowed to fight, the lawsuit has apparently caused many of the defendants to buckle. In addition to announcing they've 'reached pre-service settlement agreements in principle' with more than three-quarters of the defendants, American Transit declared 'it will soon be advising the court of agreements in principle with several other defendants. Upon completion of the settlements, plaintiff will promptly file notices of voluntary dismissal as to the settling defendants.'.