Port Townsend, Wash.-based Jefferson Healthcare has settled a lawsuit that claimed the hospital and its leadership violated the state’s open public meetings law, the hospital’s CEO said in a March 10 statement shared with Becker’s.
Here are five things to know:
1. Jefferson County Public Hospital District No. 2, CEO Mike Glenn and multiple board members were named in the lawsuit filed Oct. 23, alleging several violations of the Open Public Meetings Act.
2. Jefferson Healthcare disputed most of the allegations, which it believed to be unfounded, Mr. Glenn said in the statement.
“However, to avoid further legal expense and staff time, and in consultation with our attorneys, we have determined it is in the district’s best interest to settle this claim for $7,500,” Mr. Glenn said. “Mr. West was satisfied with the settlement agreement that acknowledges the allegations are disputed and contains no admission of liability of wrongdoing.”
3. The Jefferson Healthcare Hospital Commission passed a motion to execute the settlement on Feb. 25, the Peninsula Daily News reported March 7.
4. During an executive session on Feb. 5, 2025, Jefferson Healthcare’s board exceeded the “narrow and permissible scope permitted” by the law, Mr. Glenn said. He added that the board acknowledged the mistake, informed the public and disclosed it to the state auditor’s office.
“We have strengthened our meeting procedures to ensure continued full compliance with the OPMA in the future and provided additional training to our commissioners and staff. We now consult with an attorney when we schedule executive sessions,” Mr. Glenn said. “Jefferson Healthcare will continue our commitment to transparency and accountability as we work to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community.”
5. Mr. West shared the following statement with Becker’s on March 10:
“The settlement expressly provides that the Commissioners recognize that the issue of compliance with the OPMA is a matter of legitimate public concern; that they are committed to being vigilant about Open Government concerns, that they have retained legal counsel who will be expected to be available for future meetings and executive sessions to promote compliance with the OPMA, and they have received additional training to promote compliance with the OPMA. Under these circumstances I am hopeful that there will be no further OPMA violations in the future.”
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