Business & Tech

Saint John's Alleges Fraud, Bribery in 'Costly Nurses Saga'

The Santa Monica hospital is headed to court after reportedly paying an overseas recruiter more than half a million dollars for nurses who never arrived, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Saint John's Health Center is suing a recruiter in England after paying nearly $700,000 for nurses who never arrived to the Santa Monica hospital, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The hospital alleges it was the victim of fraud, bribery and unfair business practices," the Times reported, and "accuses the recruiter, Lisa Taylor, of paying about $128,000 in bribes to Victor Melendez, the hospital's former vice president of human resources."

The Times reported "there's no indication that this nurse-recruitment saga" triggered the recent firing of the hospital's former top two administrators, chief executive Lou Lazatin and chief operating officer Eleanor Ramirez, and a majority of its board of directors.

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But the trial, which is scheduled to start in February, may reveal "unflattering details about the inner workings of one of the area's best-known hospitals," according to the Times.

"Taylor wants the two former [Saint John's] executives to testify in this case and explain their departure," the newspaper reported.

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