SAVE OUR HOSPITAL

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Brandon Nessen, Volunteer Campaign Manager, Save Our Hospital (651) 2360919 bnnessen@gmail.com

Residents File Suit Blocking Hospital District

Dissolution at Allina Unity Hospital
Former Attorney General Mike Hatch will represent north
metro homeowners, taxpayers, and patients in court over
future of Unity Hospital
Anoka, MN Five residents of Fridley, Spring Lake Park, Mounds View, and Blaine will file
a lawsuit in in the coming days in Anoka County District Court challenging the North
Suburban Hospital Districts vote in September to dissolve itself just weeks before three
of the Hospital Boards members face challenges for reelection.
Former Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch is representing the five plaintiffs which
include homeowners, hospital patients, a Unity employee, and a candidate running for
the hospital board. The suit seeks an injunction which would roll back the hospital
boards vote in September to begin the process of dissolving the district and selling the
hospital property to Allina Health for $1.
In a hasty attempt to circumvent the democratic process in a local hospital board
election, the North Suburban Hospital District violated state law by failing to acquire a
petition from any one of its five member cities, said Hatch.
Hatch sued Allina Health as Attorney General in 2001 which led to a landmark antitrust
settlement. http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200107/20_catlinb_allina/
The hospital board surprised its constituents in September with a sudden vote to
dissolve, curiously just weeks after learning that three incumbent board members would
face opponents in their bid for reelection. Over 80 people attended the September
hospital board meeting and overwhelming spoke in opposition to the boards action but
the board passed the resolutions nonetheless.
Our communities have invested millions into Unity Hospital over the past 50 years and
we a right to have a say in its future, said one of the plaintiffs, Karen Evans of Fridley.
We are going to hold the hospital board accountable and ensure that Unity remains a
full-service, community hospital.
Allina Health has made significant reductions of services at Unity over the past year,
including the closing of its birth center and pediatric care, reduction of surgery, and
cardiac services. Allina has announced plans to increase psychiatric units and addition
services, making Unity a north metro hub for mental health.
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SAVE OUR HOSPITAL

Three health care workers are running for seats on the hospital board as a united slate
called Save Our Hospital: Linda Hamilton (At-Large), Corbin Mattila (Spring Lake Park)
who is one of the plaintiffs, and Bridget Lundquist (Mounds View). They will appear on
the general election ballot November 8th.

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