MetroHealth's former internal auditor has dropped his lawsuit against the health system that claimed top leaders, including its CEO, used hospital funds and supplies for personal means, reports Crain's Cleveland Business.
In his lawsuit filed in December, Simpson Huggins alleged unnamed company vice presidents and a relative illegally received free Botox injections at a MetroHealth clinic, and that MetroHealth CEO Akram Boutros, MD, paid for personal vacations with health system money.
"I sincerely apologize to the MetroHealth System and Dr. Akram Boutros, CEO of MetroHealth, for bringing the lawsuit against the hospital," Mr. Huggins wrote in an official apology to the health system, according to the article.
In January, an external investigation into the allegations by audit firm KPMG found no evidence of financial wrongdoing among hospital executives to support Mr. Huggins' accusations.
MetroHealth said it will not pursue a defamation suit against Mr. Huggins or his attorneys in light of the legal withdrawal.
"With [Mr. Huggins'] apology and withdrawal of the lawsuit, we can now return to the critical work we do to improve the health of everyone in our community," Dr. Boutros said in a prepared statement, according to Crain's.