Bankrupt Dallas-based health system Steward Health Care has named former CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre and other former Steward leaders in a new lawsuit as the court-appointed administrator running the system attempts to settle debts with the system’s many creditors.
In the 68-page filing from earlier this week in the Southern District of Texas’ Bankruptcy Court, the complaint alleges that de la Torre and other leaders, “through their greed and bad faith misconduct, operated Steward with the aim of enriching themselves at the expense of the Company, its creditors, and the patients and communities that Steward served.” The suit blames de la Torre and others for the downfall and eventual bankruptcy of the health system.
De la Torre, who was once a celebrated cardiac surgeon, is named alongside other Steward leaders, including Michael Callum, who was vice president for physician services, Rhode Island real estate developer and Steward board member James Karam, and former president of Steward Health Care System, Dr. Sanjay Shetty. Shetty spoke with D CEO during his tenure at Steward about how the system adopted value-based care and expanded its international presence…