The former senior vice president of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has filed a claim against the hospital claiming she’s entitled to a previously agreed upon severance package.
Keri Chorazewitz recently filed the complaint in the Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery against MHSC and its board of trustees, including Richard Mathey, Taylor Jones, Barbara Sowoda, Edward F. Tardoni and Robert Scott.
According to court documents, Chorazewitz began working for the MHSC in 2010 as the director of quality and accreditation. In 2012, she was promoted to vice president of compliance and employee relations and in April of 2016 she was then promoted to the senior vice president position.
On July 15, 2015, a letter to Chorazewitz from the hospital offered her a severance agreement if she were terminated in the future. Chorazewitz accepted this severance agreement outlined by the hospital on July 24, 2015.
On or about Feb. 6, 2017, Chorazewitz was terminated by the hospital in accordance with the terms of the severance pay effective Feb. 7, 2017.
Chorazewitz claims she accepted the termination based on the hospital’s promise to keep its commitment to pay the severance benefits.
Chorazewitz started receiving her severance pay until Feb. 21, 2017, when the board apparently voided Chorazewitz’ severance agreement. She claims the board met in an executive session on that day and after coming out of the executive session, Sowoda made a motion to void Chorazewitz’ severance agreement and her motion passed. Chorazewitz wasn’t informed of the board’s decision and claims the board had no grounds to void the agreement.
On March 31, 2017, Chorazewitz then served a notice of claim to Irene Richardson, who was then serving as the hospital’s interim chief executive officer.
Chorazewitz is asking the court to rule in her favor for a total of $97,428.69, the remaining amount stated in the severance agreement.
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