City of Anniston RMC mediation begins

Representatives from the City of Anniston and Regional Medical Centers board failed to settle their legal disputes in mediation Tuesday but will try again at a later date.

City Manager Brian Johnson said that despite not reaching a resolution Tuesday evening, the mediation was still open.

Both parties were in Birmingham all day at the office of attorney and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Thomas Woodall, who acted as a neutral mediator. The negotiations were the latest in a months-long fight between the two sides that led to the board suing the city.

Both parties decided Oct. 9 to use a neutral mediator after agreeing to try to settle their issues outside of court. If the remaining issues are not resolved by Dec. 9, however, the court will consider them instead.

RMC’s lawsuit demanded a judge reverse the council's recent decision to remove board chairman Greg Kernion from his seat and appoint 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. Also, a temporary injunction from the court kept Kernion as chairman.

All other issues remaining in RMC's lawsuit will be addressed in negotiations with the mediator.