Former Fla. ombudsman Lee expands lawsuit against state

Florida’s former long-term care ombudsman Brian Lee, who was forced out of his job this past February, has added new accusations to his lawsuit against the state, the Associated Press reported.

Lee had originally accused the state’s Department of Elder Affairs of whistleblower retaliation after he was told to resign or be fired. The order came down from Gov. Rick Scott after Lee had several clashes with LTC providers, specifically when he tried to invoke a transparency provision within the Affordable Care Act to seek nursing homes’ ownership and management information.

That initial lawsuit also accused two trade organizations—the Florida Health Care Association and the Florida Assisted Living Association—of “interfering with a business relationship by damaging his reputation, which cost him employment opportunities,” according to the AP report.

In his newly amended suit, Lee alleges all three defendants violated an additional law against interference with an ombudsman’s duties and accuses the Florida Health Care Association of defamation.

The defendants have until mid-December to respond to the new complaint.

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