The destiny of MetroSouth Medical Center could possibly be determined Tuesday, however that call could also be postponed due to a brand new lawsuit filed in opposition to the hospital’s operators.
People’s Choice Hospital, a hospital administration firm that was a possible purchaser, filed a grievance in opposition to Quorum Health — the guardian firm of MetroSouth — claiming Quorum engaged in bad-faith negotiation ways earlier than abruptly ending talks to promote the hospital in August.
Tennessee-based Quorum has denied these accusations previously however was not instantly obtainable to touch upon the newest lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed to “hold Quorum accountable” to complete the sale of the hospital, for alleged fraud and for breaching their preliminary contract. It additionally accuses Quorum of strolling away from the sale as a result of it stands to make $64 million if it liquidates its belongings — excess of the $20 million price ticket the 2 events initially agreed on.
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will vote on the hospital’s future Tuesday throughout its month-to-month assembly at Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive, however this new lawsuit grants the board the flexibility to defer making a choice till after litigation is accomplished.
MetroSouth has already advised workers the power would shut down Sept. 30.
MetroSouth, 12935 S. Gregory St. in Blue Island, is one among two hospitals within the Chicagoland space which have sought to terminate providers this yr. Westlake Hospital, 1225 W. Lake St. in Melrose Park, is the opposite, which has been closed since August.
The village of Melrose Park additionally sued to pressure the board to defer its vote on Westlake in April, however regulators accredited the closure anyway. The unanimous approval sparked a number of courtroom appeals and even pressured Gov. J.B. Pritzker to oust two newly appointed board members days later.
(Left to Right) State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Westchester, legal professional Ari Scharg and state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, exterior a courtroom on April, 16, 2019.Manny Ramos/Sun-Times
For over six months, Ari Scharg, an legal professional with Edelson PC, has fought in opposition to Westlake’s closure by submitting lawsuits, searching for non permanent restraining orders and difficult the power’s operators legitimacy to file Chapter 7 chapter.
Lawsuits in opposition to Westlake’s homeowners are nonetheless ongoing.
Now, Scharg and a group of attorneys are hoping to disrupt MetroSouth’s closure in the identical method and pressure Quorum Health again to the negotiating desk.
“In a move that has become surprisingly commonplace in Illinois, an out-of-state for-profit company has decided to shutter a community hospital, leaving its patients and employees in the lurch,” the lawsuit reads. “Quorum’s scheme to close MetroSouth will deprive the residents of Blue Island and the neighboring communities of access to critical health care and rip away more than 800 jobs from the State of Illinois.”
Amanda Anderson, a spokesperson for Quorum, stated earlier this month the deal fell aside due to People’s Choice Hospital’s unwillingness “to engage in customary negotiations or sign a binding agreement, combined with documented concerns of alleged fraud and mismanagement.”
Manny Ramos is a corps member of Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that goals to bolster Sun-Times protection of Chicago’s South Side and West Side.