RMC suit against City of Anniston headed for mediation

Officials from the city of Anniston and the Regional Medical Center board  agreed Thursday to settle their recent legal battle outside of court.

According to a press release from the city, the board and the city decided to mediate the issues surrounding a lawsuit RMC filed against the city last week. The decision comes just a day before both parties were to meet in a court hearing on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 3, demands a judge reverse the City Council's recent decision to remove Chairman Greg Kernion from his seat and appoint city manager Brian Johnson and Anniston resident Paula Watkins to the board. The court approved a temporary restraining order Oct. 3 blocking the city's moves.

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

Meanwhile, presiding Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge Brian Howell dissolved the restraining order and issued a new order for the mediation, canceling todays  hearing.

Howell’s order says the that talks between the city and the hospital board will be overseen by a “mutually acceptable mediator,” and that those talks should take place within 15 days or at some other time agreed on by the parties.

However, Howell's order also states that if the remaining issues are not resolved by Dec. 9, the court will consider them instead.