Morris Hospital defamation, conspiracy case dismissed

A lawsuit accusing Morris Hospital officials of malicious conduct was dismissed in early May, according to Grundy County Circuit Court records.

Dr. Robert B. Johnston filed the complaint against Morris Hospital, CEO Mark Steadham, President of medical staff Dr. Ari De La Hera, and additional unknown defendents seeking more than $4 million in punitive damages in late 2011. He refiled on April 4, after a judge granted the defendants' motion to dismiss in March.

The complaint charged that there was a malicious, unprofessional and reckless anti-competitive civil conspiracy that sought to drive Johnston out from his work with the hospital. The complaint also claimed the purpose of the conspiratorial scheme was to shame, intentionally inflict emotional distress and interfere with the plaintiff's business relationships.

The day after filing the amended complaint, Johnston made a motion to voluntarily dismiss the case. The case was dismissed May 4, according to the case file.