Before Schneider and his wife Linda faced 34 criminal charges, they were fighting nearly a dozen malpractice lawsuits — all for the way they prescribed prescription painkillers. Some patients sued because they became addicted, other families because their loved ones died of drug overdoses.

But in this phone call, Reynolds tells Schneider to stop agreeing to settle the lawsuits.

Reynolds call to Schneider

Reynolds, founder of the non-profit Pain Relief Network, told us in an interview on her cell phone that the suits were “frivolous” filed by “ignorant people” and that her advice to Schneider did not conflict with other actions that purported to support the patients.

Reynolds explains phone call

“Some of these cases looked on their way to being settled, but in recent weeks that has stopped,” said Larry Wall, one of the lawyers who represent patients in several wrongful death suits. “It’s unfortunate that someone who is not a lawyer is giving that kind of advice.”

Wall said he expects to file more malpractice suits against Schneider.