Singing River Saga Continues
A Singing River Health System trustee resigns and the attorney for the Jackson County Board of Supervisors offers up an explanation one week after video allegedly showing their participation in a secret meeting surfaces.
News 25’s Kristen Durand has more from today’s supervisors meeting and Singing River’s pension plan lawsuit in a follow up story you first heard on News 25 on Friday.
It was a tense exchange at today’s Jackson County board meeting as board attorney Billy Guice and supervisors gathered for the first time since video surfaced accusing him and several others of taking part in a forbidden secret meeting with key court officials related to current litigation. Jackson County District 5 Supervisor Randy Bosarge said, “I had to hear about this from the news media, not taking nothing from the news media, I’m glad they’re here because if they weren’t I wouldn’t know about it.”
Last week, in the wake of the lawsuit over the Singing River Health System’s embattled pension fund, as outlined in the plaintiffs’ court filing on Friday, Guice and others are accused of violating ethical duties by meeting with the presiding judge without the opposing party’s knowledge.
Guice, who admits there was more than just one meeting, says he only participated in an advisory role. “There was limited discussion once parties started arriving, most of which related to football and generally jokes,” said Guice.
But attorneys for Singing River retirees aren’t buying it. Attorney Earl Denham said, “It would have been impossible for them to have a federal meeting under ordinary circumstance, why would a state court judge be there? Why would a master in chancery be there?”
Also today, newly appointed hospital trustee Scott Taylor, who was also allegedly caught on camera attending the secret meeting, turned in his resignation. The search is now on for his replacement. “In my opinion,” said Bosarge, “It’s probably one of the most important positions in this county. I’ve got about 100 days to appoint somebody. I’d like to do it quicker than that so in the next couple of weeks, I’ll take resumes.”
Meanwhile, the retirement benefits and future of Singing River Health System retirees hangs in the balance, as the wheels of justice turn slowly.
No word yet on whether a hearing has been set for the Mississippi Supreme Court to hear the motion filed by the retirees’ attorneys on Friday. We’ll keep you posted.
News 25’s Kristen Durand has more from today’s supervisors meeting and Singing River’s pension plan lawsuit in a follow up story you first heard on News 25 on Friday.
It was a tense exchange at today’s Jackson County board meeting as board attorney Billy Guice and supervisors gathered for the first time since video surfaced accusing him and several others of taking part in a forbidden secret meeting with key court officials related to current litigation. Jackson County District 5 Supervisor Randy Bosarge said, “I had to hear about this from the news media, not taking nothing from the news media, I’m glad they’re here because if they weren’t I wouldn’t know about it.”
Last week, in the wake of the lawsuit over the Singing River Health System’s embattled pension fund, as outlined in the plaintiffs’ court filing on Friday, Guice and others are accused of violating ethical duties by meeting with the presiding judge without the opposing party’s knowledge.
Guice, who admits there was more than just one meeting, says he only participated in an advisory role. “There was limited discussion once parties started arriving, most of which related to football and generally jokes,” said Guice.
But attorneys for Singing River retirees aren’t buying it. Attorney Earl Denham said, “It would have been impossible for them to have a federal meeting under ordinary circumstance, why would a state court judge be there? Why would a master in chancery be there?”
Also today, newly appointed hospital trustee Scott Taylor, who was also allegedly caught on camera attending the secret meeting, turned in his resignation. The search is now on for his replacement. “In my opinion,” said Bosarge, “It’s probably one of the most important positions in this county. I’ve got about 100 days to appoint somebody. I’d like to do it quicker than that so in the next couple of weeks, I’ll take resumes.”
Meanwhile, the retirement benefits and future of Singing River Health System retirees hangs in the balance, as the wheels of justice turn slowly.
No word yet on whether a hearing has been set for the Mississippi Supreme Court to hear the motion filed by the retirees’ attorneys on Friday. We’ll keep you posted.
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