WHISTLEBLOWER

POLK CIRCUIT COURT

A jury awarded $1 million to a health care risk manager who was terminated after reporting licensed practical nurses were asked to engage in behavior outside the scope of their licenses.

Patricia Wise-Youngren claimed she learned about the scope-of-practice violations at a staff meeting on March 28, 2014, but was told the Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center would look into it and to not report the violation to the Agency of Health Care Administration. She claimed she was fired after reporting the violations.

The hospital's operator, Haines City HMA LLC, denied violating the scope of practice regulations and claimed Wise-Youngren was fired for legitimate reasons.

The Judge added front-pay damages of $118,873 on a post-verdict motion for a total award of $1.12 million.

Case: Wise-Youngren v. Haines City HMA

Case No.: 2015-CA-002096-0000-00

Plaintiffs attorney: Michael Petruccelli, Petruccelli Law, Fort Lauderdale

Defense attorneys: Charles E. Stewart III, Montgomery, Alabama, and Alysa J. Ward, Tampa, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings