The Observation Deck

It appears from the docket in Graham v. City of Lakewood, Cuyahoga County C.P. Case No. CV-15-846212, that Defendant Mike Summers agreed to give sworn testimony on Lakewood Hospital issues for the date of November 5th.

It also appears that Defendant Mike Summers then had a last minute change of heart so he did not show for his November 5th deposition after filing a motion for protective order.

The motion filed by Defendant Summers and the response to the same are both attached for your review and consideration.

Is anyone surprised?
He didn't want to debate it before the election, why would he testify after the election?

He is stalling in hopes that the suit will be dismissed.

Here's hoping that the judge believes that 43% of the vote gives those citizens standing. Mr. Summers for his part has wasted no time receding further into the shadows.

Good grief! This guy is such a ..., don't get me started!

One things for sure, he's scared $htless.

What a coward.

Afraid of his own actions.

Must have a TON to hide.

Or else, what's he afraid of?

That his deposition will be "for naught" as it says in the motion?

Press ahead!

I never viewed this whole hospital debate as purely political. More economic.

I viewed it through the prism of fairness, justice and transparency. When you take the oath of office, whether it's federal, state or local you have to assume the awesome responsibilities of the public trust. Whatever side of the issue you stand on, I feel the public trust was broken and violated. This is my biggest dissapointment.

From a distance, I believe that citizens were misled and given half truths. The lack of an economic impact study and transparency upset me. The public was misled on the economics of the deal.Only in Lakewood is job loss promoted as a good thing. (See the 2016 presidential election)

You only needed 3 talking points:

1. 1,500 jobs lost
2. 280 million lost in economic activity
3. Reduction in city services*

*What impact would a hospital closing have on the Lakewood City Schools? What will be the affect on city services? How does the lost revenue translate into day to day functioning of the Wood?

Point blank: Cuyahoga County doesn't have the residents for an economic development boom; This isn't Silicon Valley. The county is bleeding residents. Whack a mole development hasn't worked in Cuyahoga County for years.

Elections have consequences whether intended or not. Citizens get the government they tolerate. We are living in the post Citizens United world where cash is king. Just wait until the campaign finance reports are released. Then follow the money......

Nadhal Eadeh wrote: You only needed 3 talking points:

1. 1,500 jobs lost
2. 280 million lost in economic activity
3. Reduction in city services*

*What impact would a hospital closing have on the Lakewood City Schools? What will be the affect on city services? How does the lost revenue translate into day to day functioning of the Wood?

Point blank: Cuyahoga County doesn't have the residents for an economic development boom; This isn't Silicon Valley. The county is bleeding residents. Whack a mole development hasn't worked in Cuyahoga County for years.

Elections have consequences whether intended or not. Citizens get the government they tolerate. We are living in the post Citizens United world where cash is king. Just wait until the campaign finance reports are released. Then follow the money......

I agree. While the Hospital closures impact on health was important I think the economic impact was even more important and should have been a main focus of the SHL campaign.

The State of Ohio spent nearly $95 million to keep 1,600 American Greetings jobs in Ohio but Mayor Summers is willing to transfer 1,500 jobs to Avon without even giving a hint as to what will replace all of that economic activity. His behavior is .... odd.

Bill Call wrote:

Nadhal Eadeh wrote: You only needed 3 talking points:

1. 1,500 jobs lost
2. 280 million lost in economic activity
3. Reduction in city services*

*What impact would a hospital closing have on the Lakewood City Schools? What will be the affect on city services? How does the lost revenue translate into day to day functioning of the Wood?

Point blank: Cuyahoga County doesn't have the residents for an economic development boom; This isn't Silicon Valley. The county is bleeding residents. Whack a mole development hasn't worked in Cuyahoga County for years.

Elections have consequences whether intended or not. Citizens get the government they tolerate. We are living in the post Citizens United world where cash is king. Just wait until the campaign finance reports are released. Then follow the money......

I agree. While the Hospital closures impact on health was important I think the economic impact was even more important and should have been a main focus of the SHL campaign.

The State of Ohio spent nearly $95 million to keep 1,600 American Greetings jobs in Ohio but Mayor Summers is willing to transfer 1,500 jobs to Avon without even giving a hint as to what will replace all of that economic activity. His behavior is .... odd.

I don't agree.

It was 880 jobs, and more than $280 million in economic activity.

The hospital, the LHA and LHF had more than enough money to keep the hospital going, as it was not losing money.

This one is really going to hurt.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
I don't agree.

.

I feel so threatened.

I use 1,500 jobs because a couple of years ago the Hospital had about 1,100 employees. The total did not include sup contractors who work at the hospital for the Clinic and other non Hospital employees who work at the Hospital. My number also includes doctors ands support staff who worked in Lakewood because of the Hospital and the employees of local business who benefit from the economic activity the Hospital brings.

A Lakewood resident I know recently had surgery at Fairview. It was the type of surgery that was once done in Lakewood. She was sent to Avon for her recovery, was sent to Avon for here rehab and was sent to Avon for her follow up appointments.

Lakewood nursing homes are going to suffer greatly as will other business in the City. The Build Lakewood Crowd has nothing to say about any of this.

Jim,

To Bill's point, that doesn't even include the local businesses that rely on the economic activity of Lakewood Hospital. It will be much worse. Also, great talking point regarding American Greetings:that's spot on.

Regarding health care jobs. Unemployment nationally just dipped to 5%:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/07/busin ... .html?_r=0

Health care employment added 56,700 jobs nationally in October.

"Healthcare is changing" right?

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article ... /151009990

Hospitals continue to add jobs. In Lakewood, of course, "healthcare is changing". Disregard the increased amount of Americans that now have access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

All across the country, cities and states are begging for jobs, city hall wants to replace great paying jobs and the city's largest employer with economic development in an area that's bleeding residents.

The economics don't add up.

Nadhal

m buckley wrote:Here's hoping that the judge believes that 43% of the vote gives those citizens standing. Mr. Summers for his part has wasted no time receding further into the shadows.

A necessary revision to my prior post: 43% of the vote went to Senator Skindell and approximately 48% of the electorate voted YES on Referendum 64. Here's hoping that Judge Donnelly considers that 48% number when deciding whether those citizen plaintiffs have standing.

For his part, Mr. Summers, whether he's ducking depositions or practicing the politics of exclusion in some backroom, more and more resembles Harry Lime in "The Third Man". Skulking in the shadows furtively moving about in the hopes that he can elude truth and transparency. We're watching Mr. Summers. Waiting for you to step out of that shrouded doorway and reveal yourself. Telling us what you know would be a good start.

I haven't focused on the standing issue except for reading the briefs of both parties. However, I don't think that either the mayoral or issue 64 results should have any bearing on the standing issue. What is certain is that we will have a change at City Council as of January, 2016 that may favor the hospital staying--so the fate of the hospital is still up in the air.

As I understand the essence of the taxpayer claims, they are saying the city has a contract that has been breached and Summer et al have failed to enforce the contract so the taxpayers have to do it for the city. Summers and Butler have essentially claimed the City has no such rights against CCF or LHA. It would appear to be purely a legal issue as to which party is right or wrong on that issue.

On the other hand, Summers, LHA and CCF want to tear up the contract and release each other from all claims--they need City Council to do that. If Council goes along and an inevitable referendum fails, then there is no longer any agreement for the taxpayers to enforce and maybe all damages forgiven.

So until Council acts and the contract is torn up, it seems to me that the question is really:
Have the Defendants (CCF LHA LHF Summers etc ) caused damage to the hospital by breaching the contract and their duties to the city?

The fact that Summers was re-elected and issue 64 failed leaves that question unanswered. Indeed, Summers' spokesman Tom Bullock wrote an LO article claiming the mayoral election was not about the hospital and Summers did not campaign on that issue--he hid from it.

So far, City Council has decided nothing except to "negotiate". They still need 5 of 7 votes to get a "deal" done.

Madigan has been a major bad actor in this fiasco--she is gone in less than 2 months.

m buckley wrote:For his part, Mr. Summers, whether he's ducking depositions or practicing the politics of exclusion in some backroom, more and more resembles Harry Lime in "The Third Man". Skulking in the shadows furtively moving about in the hopes that he can elude truth and transparency. We're watching Mr. Summers. Waiting for you to step out of that shrouded doorway and reveal yourself. Telling us what you know would be a good start.

Matt,

I heard that Summers wanted Kevin Butler, (AKA), the acting Mayor, to do the deposition for him, but the judge said no!

any news on this law suit just curious...I thought it was to go to court this week.

The pre-trial comference that was scheduled for November 19 has been postponed until December 8, 2 pm, courtroom 18D.

Not sure why.