Steward Well being Care CEO Ralph de la Torre filed a lawsuit Monday towards a U.S. Senate committee that pursued contempt expenses towards him for failing to seem earlier than the panel regardless of being issued a subpoena.
The lawsuit, filed in federal courtroom in Washington, named almost all members of the Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee, together with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who chairs the committee which has investigated Steward’s chapter.
The lawsuit claims that the lawmakers are unlawfully violating de la Torre’s constitutional rights.
It alleges that the members of the committee, by making an attempt to compel de la Torre to reply questions about Steward’s chapter, are “collectively endeavor a concerted effort to punish Dr. de la Torre for invoking his Fifth Modification proper to not ‘be compelled . . . to be a witness towards himself.’”
De la Torre is asking the courtroom to declare that every one actions associated to enforcement of the subpoena are invalid and unconstitutional — together with the vote of the committee on Sept. 19 approving the felony contempt decision and its determination to current the decision to the complete Senate for a vote.
The Senate permitted the decision final week.
“Nobody will be compelled to testify once they train this proper beneath these circumstances. Nor does the Structure allow Congress to punish and intimidate him, or every other American, for exercising these rights,” William “Invoice” Burck, a lawyer for de la Torre, mentioned in an announcement.
Anna Bahr, communications director for Sanders, dismissed the lawsuit.
“Democrats and Republicans on the HELP Committee got here collectively and unanimously voted to carry Dr. de la Torre in contempt of Congress, as did the whole U.S. Senate,” she mentioned in an announcement. “This case has no benefit.”
The lawsuit comes a day earlier than de la Torre is about to step down as CEO of Steward.
De la Torre has overseen Steward’s community of some 30 hospitals across the nation. The Texas-based firm’s troubled latest historical past has drawn scrutiny from elected officers in New England, the place a few of its hospitals are situated.
A spokesperson for de la Torre mentioned Saturday that he “has amicably separated from Steward on mutually agreeable phrases” and “will proceed to be a tireless advocate for the advance of reimbursement charges for the underprivileged affected person inhabitants.”
Sanders mentioned earlier this month that Congress “will maintain Dr. de la Torre accountable for his greed and for the harm he has precipitated to hospitals and sufferers all through America.”
Steward has shut down pediatric wards in Massachusetts and Louisiana, closed neonatal models in Florida and Texas, and eradicated maternity providers at a hospital in Florida.
Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts mentioned that over the previous decade, Steward, led by de la Torre, and its company enablers, “looted hospitals throughout the nation for revenue, and bought wealthy via their grasping schemes.”
Alexander Merton, an legal professional for de la Torre, has mentioned the fault as an alternative lies with “the systemic failures in Massachusetts’ well being care system” and that the committee was making an attempt to border de la Torre as a felony scapegoat. Merton has additionally mentioned that de la Torre would comply with testify at a later date.
On Friday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey introduced her administration had formally seized a hospital via eminent area to assist hold it open and transition to a brand new proprietor. St. Elizabeth Medical Middle in Boston was certainly one of a bunch run by Steward. Operations shall be transferred to Boston Medical Middle.
Two different Steward-operated hospitals in Massachusetts had been pressured to shut after certified patrons couldn’t be discovered in the course of the chapter course of.
