Anniston and RMC agree on Mediator

The city of Anniston and Regional Medical Center’s board of directors agreed Thursday to begin mediation  Oct. 28 to avoid a lengthy court battle.

City attorney Bruce Downey said both parties decided Thursday to use Birmingham attorney and former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Thomas Woodall as a neutral mediator. The decision comes a week after the city and the board agreed to try to settle their issues outside of court. It's the latest in a months-long fight between the two sides that led to the board suing the city.

Downey said the mediation will take place in Woodall's office in Birmingham. Woodall works with law firm Sirote and Permutt, which has five offices in Alabama and Florida,. One of the firm's main services is alternative dispute resolution, which includes mediation.

The city and the board decided Oct. 9 to mediate the issues surrounding the lawsuit, a day before they were scheduled to meet in court on the issue.

RMC’s lawsuit demanded a judge reverse the council's recent decision to remove Kernion from his seat and appoint City Manager Brian Johnson and Anniston resident Paula Watkins to the board.

As part of the mediation agreement, however, RMC agreed to dismiss its challenge to Johnson's appointment. All other issues remaining in RMC's lawsuit will be addressed in negotiations with the mediator.

The talks between the city and the board are required to take place within 15 days or at some other time agreed on by the parties. If the remaining issues are not resolved by Dec. 9, however, the court will consider them instead.