Akram Boutros Sues MetroHealth Alleging Violations of Ohio Open Meetings Act

Ousted MetroHealth CEO Akram Boutros has filed go well with in opposition to MetroHealth alleging that the board of trustees violated Ohio’s Open Conferences Act and MetroHealth bylaws within the hiring of incoming CEO Dr. Airica Steed and its termination of Boutros this month. (A replica of the grievance could be considered in full under.)

It solely briefly addresses the explanations Metro cited for firing him — allegedly awarding himself bonuses totaling $1.9 million over a four-year interval that weren’t permitted by or disclosed to the board — in addition to saying they had been licensed and as an alternative largely contends the strategies by which Metro’s board carried out the CEO search and launched the Boutros investigation throughout government classes violated state legislation.

That investigation was carried out by outdoors counsel at Tucker Ellis and alleged Boutros hid the bonuses and issued them to himself in violation of his contract with the publicly funded hospital system.

The report additionally says Boutros might have publicity to a felony theft in workplace cost. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Workplace informed Scene final week it’s contact with the Ohio Ethics Fee to find out if a felony investigation is important. Boutros self-reported to the OEC on Nov. 1, the day after repaying Metro the $1.9 million plus curiosity.

Boutros, for his half, has maintained that he did nothing incorrect in gathering the bonuses and that the board’s investigation of the bonuses and subsequent firing had been in retaliation for Boutros allegedly discovering that the board had engaged in improper habits with regard to the hiring of the brand new CEO.

“The cause-and-effect connection between the 2 incidents is inescapable: [Metro Board of Trustees Chair Vanessa] Whiting tried to whip up an argument from contemporaneously created MetroHealth enterprise data which always had been obtainable to the Board of Trustees regarding bonus funds which the Board had, in actual fact, permitted by decision,” the grievance reads.

The go well with seeks to “nullify the illegal investigation of Dr. Boutros and to nullify Dr. Boutros’ termination for trigger as The MetroHealth System’s President and Chief Government Officer.”

Whiting, in an announcement issued by MetroHealth Monday night, stated:  “We’re upset, although not stunned, that Dr. Boutros has filed a lawsuit. His allegations are little greater than a distraction from these basic info: That he awarded himself almost $2 million in bonuses with out correct evaluate or authorization and that he hid these funds from MetroHealth’s trustees and the general public. We’re assured the board acted in accord with Ohio legislation, however nobody ought to lose sight of the irony that somebody who for 5 years actively cloaked his actions is making an attempt now to recast himself as a champion of sunshine.”