Gazette sues over hospital contracts

The Gazette sued Memorial Health System on Tuesday, asking the 4th Judicial District Court to order the cityowned health care provider to release documents related to its employment of two cardiologists and its leasing of office space to a local physicians group.

In the lawsuit, which lists Gazette parent Freedom Colorado Information Inc. and reporter Debbie (Kelley) Warhola as plaintiffs, the newspaper seeks a copy of employment contracts between Memorial and Drs. Bryan Mahan and Burt Fowler.

The Gazette also seeks a copy of all contracts, from 2000 to the present, between Memorial and Pikes Peak Cardiology. The physicians group leases space at Memorial’s recently expanded Boulder Street campus.

The Gazette’s suit contends the documents are public records under the Colorado Open Records Act. The newspaper also seeks reimbursement of legal fees related to the suit.

Hospital officials have said the documents sought by The Gazette are “trade secrets” and “privileged information” exempt from release under the Open Records Act, according to the lawsuit.

Memorial spokesman Chris Valentine said Tuesday the health system “elected to protect two of the 11 documents requested in order to maintain our ability to provide the best possible health care for our community.” Memorial declined further comment.