Broward Health files countersuit against ex-CEO

Broward Health, one of the state’s largest hospital systems, is suing its former chief executive alleging, among other things, that she violated federal antikickback laws.

The North Broward Hospital District on Monday filed a countersuit against its former CEO, Pauline Grant, in Broward Circuit Court alleging that she violated the hospital’s code of conduct by serving as secretary of the board of directors of John Knox Village, a long-term care provider that had contracts with the hospital system.

The countersuit seeks an unspecified amount of money.

Attempts to contact Grant’s attorney on Monday were unsuccessful.

Her position on the board allegedly violated the terms of a corporateintegrity agreement the hospital district entered with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015 to settle more than $69 million in health-care fraud allegations.

A majority of the North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners agreed last December to terminate Grant.

The hospital district also is alleging that Grant violated anti-kickback laws when she was president and CEO of Broward Health North, one of the six hospitals in the healthcare system.

Following her ouster, Grant, who earned more than $609,000 annually as the CEO of the hospital district, filed suit against the public hospital district, accusing it of violating state law requiring government boards to conduct their business in public.

Her suit alleges that the hospital district’s general counsel discussed her termination with board commissioners in advance of the meeting, which she contends violated the state law requiring public meetings.

She also is seeking a severance package, something the hospital alleges she isn’t entitled to receive. Grant was made interim CEO of the system after the death of former CEO Nabil El Sanadi.