Minutes
Minutes
Minutes
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LEGAL COMMITTEE<br />
October 26, 2011<br />
Present: Committee Members: Polly Clemo, Dr. Ronald Fountain<br />
William Gaskill, John Moss, Charles Spain, Dr.<br />
Joseph Carter, Dr. Alfred Connors<br />
Staff: John Corlett, Marlene Franklin<br />
Dr. Edward Hills, Phyllis Marino, Mark Moran<br />
Thomas Onusko<br />
The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m. by Mr. Spain. The<br />
minutes are written in a format conforming to the printed meeting<br />
agenda for the convenience of correlation, recognizing that some<br />
of the items were discussed out of sequence.<br />
1. The minutes of the August 24, 2011 meeting were approved.<br />
2. Engagement of Sennett Fisher as special counsel for general<br />
and business litigation matters<br />
Mr. Onusko requested approval of the retention of Sennett<br />
Fisher, LLC as special counsel for general and business<br />
litigation matters. He noted that James Sennett served as<br />
our special counsel at the law firm Cowden & Humphrey and<br />
recently formed his own firm. He has extensive trial<br />
experience and is currently handling a litigation matter for<br />
MetroHealth at a very attractive hourly rate.<br />
Upon motion made and seconded, the Committee resolved to<br />
recommend to the Board of Trustees approval of the retention<br />
of Sennett Fisher, LLC as special counsel for general and<br />
business litigation matters.<br />
3. Engagement of Fay Sharpe as special counsel for intellectual<br />
property matters<br />
Mr. Onusko requested approval of the retention of Fay Sharpe<br />
as special counsel for intellectual property matters. He<br />
introduced Joseph Dickinson, MetroHealth’s Privacy and<br />
Security Officer, who has significant intellectual property<br />
experience and who identified intellectual property firms in<br />
the area. Mr. Onusko detailed the requests for proposal and<br />
the selection process.
Upon motion made and seconded, the Committee resolved to<br />
recommend to the Board of Trustees approval of the retention<br />
of Fay Sharpe as special counsel for intellectual property<br />
matters.<br />
Mr. Moss inquired as to how often the Committee should<br />
review the continued retention of a law firm. It was the<br />
consensus of the Committee that the continued extension of a<br />
law firm be reviewed at least once every three years.<br />
4. Government Relations Update – John Corlett<br />
Mr. Corlett noted that Mr. Moran would be presenting<br />
MetroHealth’s budget to the County Council on November 7 and<br />
encouraged Trustees to attend.<br />
Mr. Corlett reported that he is continuing to work with<br />
Neighborhood Progress, Inc. on the West 25 th Street<br />
Redevelopment Project.<br />
Mr. Corlett noted that MetroHealth has received an<br />
“unofficial blessing” of its Medicaid Waiver proposal by the<br />
Governor’s office. The State will have to submit the<br />
application on behalf of MetroHealth. He stated that a<br />
third party administrator will have to be named. Mr. Moran<br />
added that we will have to engage someone to help us on the<br />
analytical side of the benefit package to deal with<br />
eligibility claims.<br />
A motion was unanimously passed by roll call vote to hold an<br />
executive session to consider pending litigation matters and<br />
trade secret matters.<br />
Following the executive session, the meeting reopened.<br />
5. Upon motion made and seconded, the Committee resolved to<br />
recommend to the Board of Trustees the proposed settlement<br />
of Claim No. 10-52-0108.<br />
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There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at<br />
3:40 p.m.<br />
Respectfully submitted,<br />
Thomas J. Onusko<br />
Senior Vice President<br />
General Counsel<br />
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