Michael Connelly, president and CEO of Cincinnati-based Mercy Health, has filed a defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit against Service Employees International Union No. 1199, according to a USA Today report.
In his lawsuit, Mr. Connelly alleges the labor union attempted to destroy his reputation by driving a van displaying his image, the words "GREED! GREED! GREED!" and his personal telephone number around the neighborhood near his home, according to the report.
The side of the van featured a message that said "Mercy Health CEO Michael Connelly is getting rich off the sick, disabled and indigent!"
Although the attacks on Mr. Connelly stem from labor dispute negotiations between Mercy Health and the union, Mr. Connelly claims the union's actions go beyond a "labor dispute" and are "personal," according to the report.
I know you don't like this union much, but isn't Connelly's response a bit extreme?
ReplyDeleteApparently the most recent relevant compensation data is from 2011, when Mr Connelly received $2.2 million in total compensation. (See: http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/hospital-executive-compensation-increases-for-reti/nTQQw/). For 2011, that does seem kind of high for an executive of a non-profit Catholic system who now proclaims "Our name change reinforces our fidelity to our powerful message – of compassionate, quality healthcare – bringing God’s mercy to the poor and under-served. As Pope Francis shares “the Lord’s most powerful message (is) mercy.” (See: http://www.mercy.com/corporate/message-from-ceo.aspx) Finally, isn't a lawsuit for libel a bit extreme when the union's campaign basically stated their opinion (that is, that Connelly is greedy), but did not apparently allege any facts, much less false facts?