Mesa-based Copa Health files lawsuit accusing former CEO of misusing resources, funds

Mesa-based Copa Health Inc. filed a lawsuit accusing former CEO Sharareh Najafi-Piper of misusing the nonprofit's resources and funds.

BY ANGELA GONZALES AND PAUL THOMPSON/PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

Apr 5, 2026, 7:32 AM Updated: 11:41 am

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Mesa-based Copa Health Inc. has filed a lawsuit against former CEO Sharareh (Shar) Najafi-Piper.

The lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, also names Najafi-Piper’s husband Brian Piper and Roya Health LLC.

According to the lawsuit, board members learned that Najafi-Piper used Copa’s resources, employees and confidential information to create and operate a for-profit competitor called Roya Health LLC. The lawsuit also alleges that she used Copa funds to fund her charitable, social, personal and family expenses.

In a statement sent Wednesday to the Business Journal, Najafi-Piper said the allegations in the lawsuit “are not only false but also manipulated to create a misleading narrative.”

A virtual hearing has been scheduled for April 7 at 10 a.m. for Najafi-Piper to show cause “why the relief sought in the application should not be granted,” according to a March 24 order.

This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.