According to the report, in Dec. 2008, the health district’s newly elected board placed nine administrators on leave and launched an investigation into hospital finances and operations. Then in Apr. 2009, eight of the administrators were fired without severance pay.
The suit claims that board members defamed the fired executives in comments made during the controversy and that several state laws were violated that protect against wrongful termination and guarantee due process, according to the report.
Seven plaintiffs were named in the suit, including Allen Coleman, former vice president of business and development; Robert Wardwell, former vice president and chief financial officer; Doreen Sanderson, vice president of human relations; Suellyn Ellerbe, vice president, COO and chief nurse executive; Terry Howell, vice president of performance improvement; Ondrea Labella, director of patient accounting; and Daniel Groszkruger, director of legal services.
The four board members named as defendants in the suit are Kathleen Sterling, RoseMarie Reno, Charlene Anderson and George Coulter. The district’s current administrator, Larry Anderson, also is listed in the suit.
Read the Union-Tribune’s report about the Tri-City Medical Center executives’ lawsuit.
