Paul Woods is seeking an additional $ 1 million in punitive damages in a lawsuit against the London Health Sciences Center on top of the $ 2.5 million in his first lawsuit in January.
Woods was removed as President and CEO of the London Health Sciences Center in early January, just days after the LHSC Board of Directors confirmed that he had made five trips to the US since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, most recently on December 19 through 25, 2020.
Continue reading:
No sympathy for snowbirds: Most Canadians support travel restrictions, the Ipsos survey found
While the board initially stated on January 8th that Woods would “continue to provide stability,” it issued a statement on January 11 stating that “it has become clear that this situation has the confidence of employees, doctors and the community has affected the company The leadership of Dr. Woods. “
The story continues under the advertisement
Two days later, Woods commenced a $ 2.5 million lawsuit seeking $ 1.4 million for “bad faith termination” for his base salary, performance-related compensation, benefits, and pension Filed for the period January 10, 2021 through January 14, 2023 and damages of $ 1 million for loss of reputation, $ 100,000 for violating the Ontario Human Rights Code, and coverage of all legal costs.
The LHSC issued a defense statement the following week, claiming that “to the extent that Dr. Wood’s reputation has been damaged, it was due to his own poor judgment and hypocrisy”.
“The reality is that Dr. Woods is no different from anyone else who has been on vacation trips during the pandemic. While his trip to Michigan could be explained by his personal circumstances, his trip to Florida was a public holiday, ”LHSC said.
The Defense Statement added that in response to claims made by the Human Rights Code, Woods was fired “not because his family circumstances made him work from home,” but because “he has the trust of the staff and doctors and the community it serves who had lost in the light of his own hypocrisy. “
Continue reading:
Former CEO of the London Health Sciences Center traveled to Florida, Michigan: Defense Statement
In an amended statement of claims and a response to the LHSC’s statement of defense filed on Friday, February 19, Woods “does not admit any of the allegations made in any paragraph of the statement of defense”.
The story continues under the advertisement
The claim also calls for an additional $ 3.5 million for a total of $ 3.5 million.
Woods attorneys argue that their client has not lost the moral authority to run the hospital as LHSC has claimed, and that Woods has received repeated reassurances from the chairman and other members of the executive team with whom he “traveled to reunite” be his immediate family was acceptable. “
Woods lawyers argue that LHSC broke its commitments and terminated Woods “because he did exactly what he was promised and then made false public statements about those commitments”.
Trend stories
-
Canadian Tire is closing its 18 National Sports stores. Here they are.
-
The father-to-be is killed by a gender-specific explosive device
2:30Ontario Hospital CEO Leaves 3 Panels After Pandemic Leave
Ontario Hospital CEO Leaves 3 Panels After Pandemic Leave – Jan 6, 2021
However, the defense statement alleged that hospital officials had raised concerns about Woods’ trip as early as March 23.
According to the LHSC, senior vice presidents had trouble reaching Woods on the weekend of March 21 and 22, and learned he had been to Michigan the following Monday.
The story continues under the advertisement
The statement said Neil Johnson, chief operating officer, and Susan Nickle, chief people officer, expressed concern about Woods’ travels “for his personal health, reputation and organization.”
LHSC claims Woods “got angry” and said his trip did not affect them.
Woods’ February 19 response said his trip to Michigan in March 2020 was an urgent family matter and he was unable to notify all five senior executives in advance, despite notifying two of them as well as the chair.
Upon returning, Woods reportedly learned that the other three senior vice presidents had suffered “hurt feelings.” He apologized and promised to be completely transparent in the future, adds the answer.
After that, the response said Woods “did not hear a single concern from an executive vice president.”
Continue reading:
“Morale Is Terrible”: London, Ontario, Nurse Claims Equipment Problems, LHSC Lack of Break Room (Dec 2020)
The response also refers to an internal email Woods sent to LHSC staff in November that was reported in the media. He said, “As health workers, we need to go to higher standards when it comes to living and modeling public health policies both inside and outside of our workplace. “
The story continues under the advertisement
The LHSC’s Defense Statement alleges that staff viewed this as an “unhelpful and persistent assault on frontline health workers who had provided exceptional service and made significant personal sacrifices”.
“As a result,” the defense statement said, “there has been a marked negative reaction from hospital staff, doctors and stakeholders” when his travel story was published.
In the February 19 response, Woods’ attorneys argue that “there was nothing inconsistent between the plaintiff’s inquiries to hospital staff in November 2020 and the approach he took in his personal family life.”
Continue reading:
The Halton Police Chief will keep his job after traveling from Canada amid a pandemic
It is said that hospitals are a high risk environment for the spread of COVID-19. As a result, it was Woods’ “professional and moral duty” to insist that hospital staff follow COVID-19-related health and safety protocols.
The response adds that Woods drove to cross the border, followed physical distancing protocols in the US, was always quarantined for two weeks or more on his return to Canada, and that “hospital staff and patients were never at risk because of its borders” trip.
In an email to Global News on Wednesday, LHSC legal representatives said: “Nothing in Dr. Woods’ amended claim statement changed LHSC’s position on the matter that was in LHSC’s January 21, 2021 Defense Statement is set out. “
The story continues under the advertisement
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
– With files from Sawyer Bogdan of Global News.
2:17Fallout continues from non-essential trips by BC officials
Fallout continues from non-essential trips by BC officials – Jan 9, 2021
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
