Cumberland River Hospital Owner Suing Clay County And Celina

Summons delivered to the City of Celina, Clay County and three other entities Wednesday as a lawsuit filed surrounding the closing of Cumberland River Hospital.

Hospital Owner Johnny Presley charges the parties with “intentional, malicious and reckless actions” that led to the hospital’s closing. The lawsuit claims that leaders purposely misled EMS staff of the hospital’s medical capabilities and diverted patients to other facilities.

Presley requesting $100 million, $60 million for compensatory damages and $40 million for punitive damages. The suit claims Clay County and the City of Celina are liable for not bringing corrective action when the conspiracy was brought to their attention.

Former Clay County EMA Director Natalie Boone , Dr. Mark Pressley who served as the Livingston Regional Hospital Medical Director and LifePoint Health, the company over Livingston Regional, also named in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit states that the Boone and Pressley exploited patients costing Cumberland River Hospital large sums of money. One instance directly resulted in a patient death due to delay of care, according to the lawsuit. It also claims that Pressley was “motivated by a desire to divert lucrative patients” to Livingston Regional.