MetroHealth Whistleblower Claims to Have Been Victim of Retaliation

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The director of an internal audit at MetroHealth in Ohio recently claimed two of the organization’s vice presidents and one employee’s relative had received free Botox injections and various other services from the Pepper Pike Dermatology Clinic. The information was revealed in a lawsuit filed in December in Cuyahoga County.

The findings of the report also included thousands of dollars in improper spending and reimbursements for various personal expenses, including personal trips to locations like Abu Dhabi, London and Venice. The free services and improper financial management would both constitute felony charges.

The director claims that retaliation against him began immediately after he revealed these findings. He was prevented from attending the Finance Committee meeting that came after the Audit Committee meeting, and then was confronted in the hall by several executives, including general counsel Michael Phillips, a MetroHealth detective and Vice President of Human Resources Debbie Warman. The director said Phillips told him he had overstepped his bounds and looked at records he did not have permission to analyze. He was then promptly escorted off the property, but not before having his flash drive, filing cabinet keys and hospital identification confiscated. He was then put on unpaid administrative leave.

MetroHealth denies all of the allegations in the complaint, along with the findings of the director’s audit.

There are many statutes in place that protect whistleblowers in the event of retaliation. Retaliation can come in the form of wrongful termination or simply poor treatment at work. It’s important for businesses and organizations to have clear policies in place to avoid these issues.

For further legal guidance on these issues, contact the skilled Dallas attorneys at Whistleblower Law for Managers today.

By Steve Kardell | Published April 4, 2016 | Posted in Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged whistleblower retaliation claim

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