Metro Health secures $1M settlement against former executive

Alyssa Rege -

Wyoming, Mich.-based Metro Health Hospital was awarded a $1 million settlement in a lawsuit filed against Laura Staskiewicz, the former head of the health system's foundation.

Ms. Staskiewicz filed a lawsuit against Metro Health Hospital in April 2015 in Kent County Circuit Court accusing Metro Health Hospital and its President and CEO Michael Faas of illegal and unethical conduct in connection with the health system's potential sale to Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.

According to a MiBiz report, Ms. Staskiewicz claimed Mr. Faas fired her in January 2015 for expressing concern over the proposed sale to CHS. Ms. Staskiewicz voluntarily dismissed the suit against Metro Health Hospital earlier this year.

Metro Health Hospital then countersued Ms. Staskiewicz for damages incurred when she leaked "confidential and misleading" information about the organization during the lawsuit, according to MLive. Ms. Staskiewicz agreed to pay a $1 million settlement to her former employer Sept. 14. A judge approved the agreement Sept. 16.

The health system terminated discussions with CHS in August 2015.

"I am pleased that the truth in these matters has been revealed. We are focused on the future and growing Metro Health . Serving patients has always been and will always be our top priority," said Mr. Faas in statement. "Aggressively defending ourselves was not the easy thing to do, but it certainly was the right thing to do. Our reputation in the west Michigan community is critical to our mission of improving the health and wellbeing of our patients."

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