The former executive director of Oakland, Calif.-based Oak Valley Hospital Foundation is suing the public hospital district and its former CEO, claiming she was fired for political activities that she participated in on her own time, according to a Modesto Bee report.
Amy Thompson is alleging wrongful termination, breach of contract and defamation in her suit. Ms. Thompson campaigned for three nominees running for the district's board of directors in November 2010. Those nominees ran on platforms that were critical of John Friel, who was CEO of the district at the time of the election.
The three nominees were elected to the board, and Mr. Friel was placed on administrative leave in October 2011 after he was unable to get a contract extension.
Ms. Thompson alleges she was terminated in August 2011 because of her campaign work, which the lawsuit claims was conducted on her own time and is constitutionally protected. She also claims that Mr. Friel made false statements about her to the board as evidence of why she should be fired and did not get consent from the foundation board before terminating her — an alleged violation of the foundation's bylaws.
Oak Valley Hospital Foundation is still without an executive director, according to the report. Mr. Friel is now CEO of Catalina Island Medical Center in Avalon, Calif.
The lawsuit does not disclose a dollar amount Ms. Thompson is seeking.
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Amy Thompson is alleging wrongful termination, breach of contract and defamation in her suit. Ms. Thompson campaigned for three nominees running for the district's board of directors in November 2010. Those nominees ran on platforms that were critical of John Friel, who was CEO of the district at the time of the election.
The three nominees were elected to the board, and Mr. Friel was placed on administrative leave in October 2011 after he was unable to get a contract extension.
Ms. Thompson alleges she was terminated in August 2011 because of her campaign work, which the lawsuit claims was conducted on her own time and is constitutionally protected. She also claims that Mr. Friel made false statements about her to the board as evidence of why she should be fired and did not get consent from the foundation board before terminating her — an alleged violation of the foundation's bylaws.
Oak Valley Hospital Foundation is still without an executive director, according to the report. Mr. Friel is now CEO of Catalina Island Medical Center in Avalon, Calif.
The lawsuit does not disclose a dollar amount Ms. Thompson is seeking.
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