Erlanger Health System in Tennessee is facing a $25 million lawsuit from its former interim CEO claiming retaliatory discharge, invasion of privacy and conspiracy, and violation of the state Disability Discrimination Act, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson, who worked at the hospital for 21 years and served as interim CEO twice, maintains she was forced out her position, thanks in part to certain Board of Trustees members and University of Tennessee College of Medicine employees conspiring to have her ousted.
In the lawsuit, the former interim CEO demands back pay, front pay, employment benefits, and damages for invasion of privacy, conspiracies, interference with her contract and for "public humiliation and lasting impact of character assassination," the article noted.
While Woodard-Thompson did not retire, resign or get fired, when her approved medical leave ended in June, so did her employment--a sudden termination she said came out of the blue, according to another Times Free Press article.
The hospital has offered Woodard-Thompson a severance benefit totaling roughly $486,000. According to the Times Free Press, Erlanger trustees have forced out each of the previous three CEOs and gave them all severance pay.
For more:
- read the Times Free Press articles on the lawsuit and termination