UPMC Sues Pittsburgh, Mayor Ravenstahl Over Tax-Exempt Challenge

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has filed suit against the city of Pittsburgh and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, claiming the city's lawsuit questioning UPMC's tax-exempt status is a "campaign to target and damage UPMC," according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

UPMC filed the 16-page complaint in federal court April 19 in response to Pittsburgh and Mayor Ravenstahl's lawsuit, which was filed March 20. The suit sought to compel UPMC to pay six years' worth of payroll taxes by claiming the health system does not meet state law requirements for tax exemption.

UPMC's lawsuit claims the city's suit was "announced and instituted in total disregard of state and local law and in gross violation of the constitutional rights of UPMC and its supported organizations, including their right to equal protection under the law, and procedural and substantive due process, as well as in contravention of Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce," according to the report.

The suit also claims the city has not challenged the tax-exempt status of other large non-profit organizations, such as health insurer Highmark.

UPMC is demanding a monetary judgment against the city, according to the report.

Pittsburgh City Solicitor Dan Regan said the lawsuit is not entirely surprising and that the city felt as though "it was possible [UPMC] would take this action," according to the report.

More Articles on UPMC:

UPMC Hiring to Decline by 75% This Year
UPMC Faces More Charges of Unfair Labor Practices
Pittsburgh vs. UPMC: Getting to the Bottom of the Tax-Exempt Battle


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