University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has filed an amended lawsuit against city Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, claiming the mayor's lawsuit challenging UPMC's nonprofit status is a strategy to divert attention from a city scandal, according to a copy of the lawsuit.
In March, Mayor Ravenstahl announced the city was launching a formal challenge to UPMC's tax-exempt status. The city filed a lawsuit with the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County contesting UPMC's exemption from city payroll taxes. The suit was said to be prompted by UPMC's finances, profit totaling nearly $1 billion in the last two fiscal years and reserves in excess of $3 billion.
UPMC responded with a lawsuit in April, claiming the city's lawsuit was a "campaign to target and damage" the health system. It filed an amended suit Thursday, now claiming Mayor Ravenstahl "seeks to divert attention from scandalous public reports of his precarious legal predicament and to curry favor with parties intent on harming UPMC and capable of cushioning his political fall."
The amended lawsuit specifically mentions a 2012 investigation of the Pittsburgh Police Department that resulted in alleged documents showing "payments made for secondary employment" of police officers by the mayor. This allegedly included off-duty police officers chauffeuring the mayor to public and private events, according to the suit.
The mayor announced his intent for reelection only to reverse those plans two weeks later, on March 1. UPMC alleges the decision to not seek reelection "was based on the public perception that he faced personal criminal jeopardy for his actions while in office," according to the suit.
UPMC claims the mayor reversed his positive position toward the health system and its role in the community to "deflect public attention and endear himself with those adverse to UPMC."
UPMC is seeking a jury trial, along with punitive damages and attorneys' fees.
A spokesperson from the mayor's office said the mayor is not commenting on the matter at this time.
UPMC Sues Pittsburgh, Mayor Ravenstahl Over Tax-Exempt Challenge
Pittsburgh Pursues Removal of UPMC's Tax Exemption
In March, Mayor Ravenstahl announced the city was launching a formal challenge to UPMC's tax-exempt status. The city filed a lawsuit with the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County contesting UPMC's exemption from city payroll taxes. The suit was said to be prompted by UPMC's finances, profit totaling nearly $1 billion in the last two fiscal years and reserves in excess of $3 billion.
UPMC responded with a lawsuit in April, claiming the city's lawsuit was a "campaign to target and damage" the health system. It filed an amended suit Thursday, now claiming Mayor Ravenstahl "seeks to divert attention from scandalous public reports of his precarious legal predicament and to curry favor with parties intent on harming UPMC and capable of cushioning his political fall."
The amended lawsuit specifically mentions a 2012 investigation of the Pittsburgh Police Department that resulted in alleged documents showing "payments made for secondary employment" of police officers by the mayor. This allegedly included off-duty police officers chauffeuring the mayor to public and private events, according to the suit.
The mayor announced his intent for reelection only to reverse those plans two weeks later, on March 1. UPMC alleges the decision to not seek reelection "was based on the public perception that he faced personal criminal jeopardy for his actions while in office," according to the suit.
UPMC claims the mayor reversed his positive position toward the health system and its role in the community to "deflect public attention and endear himself with those adverse to UPMC."
UPMC is seeking a jury trial, along with punitive damages and attorneys' fees.
A spokesperson from the mayor's office said the mayor is not commenting on the matter at this time.
More Articles on UPMC and the City of Pittsburgh:
Pittsburgh v. UPMC: Legal Arguments Behind the Tax-Exempt ChallengeUPMC Sues Pittsburgh, Mayor Ravenstahl Over Tax-Exempt Challenge
Pittsburgh Pursues Removal of UPMC's Tax Exemption