Steward Well being Care CEO Ralph de la Torre filed a lawsuit Monday in opposition to a U.S. Senate committee that pursued contempt expenses in opposition to him for failing to seem earlier than the panel regardless of being issued a subpoena.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court docket in Washington, named practically 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 enterprise a concerted effort to punish Dr. de la Torre for invoking his Fifth Modification proper to not ‘be compelled . . . to be a witness in opposition to himself.’”
De la Torre is asking the court docket 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 authorised the decision final week.
“Nobody might be compelled to testify once they train this proper underneath 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 advantage.”
The lawsuit comes a day earlier than de la Torre is ready 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 positioned.
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 triggered to hospitals and sufferers all through America.”
Steward has shut down pediatric wards in Massachusetts and Louisiana, closed neonatal items 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 received 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 preserve it open and transition to a brand new proprietor. St. Elizabeth Medical Heart in Boston was one among a bunch run by Steward. Operations will likely be transferred to Boston Medical Heart.
Two different Steward-operated hospitals in Massachusetts have been compelled to shut after certified patrons couldn’t be discovered through the chapter course of.
