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Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Ind. Law - Porter hospital’s legal fees will top $1 million for 2005, with much of it paid to an Indianapolis law firm
"Porter hospital legal fees up" is the headline to this story today in the Gary Post-Tribune, reported by Jim Stinson:
VALPARAISO — Porter hospital’s legal fees will top $1 million for 2005, with much of it paid to an Indianapolis law firm representing the county-owned hospital.The story also lists Hall Render's billings to Porter hospital in prior years.A hospital official called the legal expense a normal part of health care.
“(It) amounts to 0.2 percent — that is two-tenths of 1 percent — of Porter’s total annual budget,” said Robin Carlascio, Porter spokeswoman. “Health care is a highly regulated industry with many legal issues and concerns associated with governance and basic operations.”
Porter’s gross revenues are expected to be about $500 million in 2005. Carlascio said as of Nov. 30, Porter spent $984,728 on legal fees in 2005.
Some of the fees paid specifically to Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman of Indianapolis have caught the attention of Julie Wheeland, head of the Porter Watch Political Action Committee. Wheeland has criticized Porter and Chief Executive Officer Ron Winger, for increasing payments to the law firm since 2001, the year Winger came to Porter as CEO.
“There are some very hard questions,” Wheeland said Monday. “Why has this been necessary under (Winger’s) tenure? ... Are we to believe there are no capable law firms in Porter County? Local billing rates are much lower than Hall Render’s usual $300 per hour.” * * *
A complicated lawsuit by Sanjay Shah may not be helping things.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 17, 2006 08:00 AM
Posted to Indiana Law