Landmark Decision Postponed Until May 27

PROVIDENCE - Judge Michael Silverstein postponed his decision to pick a buyer for Landmark Hospital and its sister rehab facility in North Smithfield once again at Superior Court on Tuesday morning.

From the bench, Judge Silverstein issued a brief five minute address about the postponement.  

"The court directed certain unfulfilled issues be resolved and indicated that it would today issue that decision, in the form of instruction to the special master," said Silverstein.  "The court has reviewed the filings it has received in the last day or so in connection with the instructions I gave .  The court is not satisfied at this juncture that its instructions have been complied with."

Silverstein continued, "Accordingly, the court is going to do the following: the court is going to continue this matter one more time.  The matter is being continued to Friday, the 27th of May.  The court expects that within that time frame any and all open issues will be resolved on fear that the court will not entertain any bid whose conditions have not been resolved."  

He then directed Transition Healthcare to work with the special master, Jonathan Savage, to "bring to fruition" an asset purchase agreement.  He also declined Transition's offer for an "in-camera" review of certain financial information, which would prove their ability to purchase the hospitals.  Instead, he directed Transition to make this information available to Savage on an "eyes only basis."

Silverstein then instructed Regional Healthcare to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the nurses union in the proposed time frame.

"The court notes that communiques from each of them indicate that it is highly unlikely that there will be a resolution of a satisfactory or, as I said, facetiously, but perhaps not, mutually unsatisfactory resolution of their issues."

"The court hopes that goodwill will pervade and there will be a resolution," said Silverstein.

Christopher Callaci, the counsel for United Nurses and Allied Professionals, the nurses' union, said that the largest point of contention between the union and Regional Healthcare has been over medical insurance.

He said that both Transition and Prime Healthcare, the third bidder for the hospitals, had come to quick agreements to honor the union's previous contract, but that there have been significant disagreements with Regional.  Callaci said he has spent countless hours working with Regional on a proposal, but they have rejected every offer.

"Their proposal will require working families to spend thousands of dollars out of their pockets paying for medical care," said Callaci outside the courtroom.

Any problems relating to Prime Healthcare's bid were not mentioned by Judge Silverstein.

Editor's note:  The final decision will take place on the 27 of May, not the 22 as originally reported.