A former accountant for the company which managed the Regency Park and Harbor Chase communities until last May has sued as a ‘whistleblower,’ claiming she was fired for questioning the allegedly shady financial practices of her superiors at the firm, including padding occupancy rates to boost sales bonuses.
Alicia Combs worked as a staff accountant for Vero-based Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA) from November 2022 until she was fired last March 6, allegedly “in retaliation for objecting to conduct attributable to HRA … that violates … one or more laws, rules, or regulations,” according to the complaint filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court for Indian River County.
Vero-based HRA develops and manages high-end assisted-living communities in Florida, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Delaware and Connecticut.
Sagora Senior Living took over management of the two Vero Beach communities from HRA last May.
Combs said she became aware of the allegedly illegal conduct in 2023 and early 2024 when she began to notice that the occupancy rates at various communities were inflated. The padded numbers were presented to the company’s investors, whose contracts are based on occupancy, the suit says.
“This scheme also increased the bonuses paid to the eligible sales team members who are paid extra according to the occupancy percentages,” the suit said. Combs also alleged that refunds due to residents who moved out were delayed and, in some cases, not paid at all, to further misrepresent occupancy numbers to investors, the suit says.
Combs said she objected to management about the practice on multiple occasions, including notifying HRA’s controller, and emailing CFO Chris Collins and COO Mark McBride. Combs also alleged in the suit that the scheme was covered up by others in the company.
Combs said she believes she was fired in violation of Florida’s so-called Whistleblower Act, State Statute 448.104, which forbids “the discharge, suspension, or demotion by an employer” in retaliation for an employee disclosing illegal practices.
In its answer, lawyers for HRA admitted that Combs complained about the company’s administrative processes, but never complained that laws were being broken.
The company’s reporting of occupancy percentages and payment of credits to residents do not violate the law, the answer said.
The company response also denied that Combs was fired in retaliation for bringing alleged illegal activity to the attention of superiors. The case has been set for trial in April 2026.
