OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Tri-City Healthcare District has filed a $100,000 civil lawsuit and a temporary restraining order against its hospital director, following an alleged assault on several hospital security officers and numerous incidents of inappropriate conduct. However, Kathleen Sterling remains on the hospital board, which she was elected to in 2008.
In December, Sterling was arraigned on a felony charge of vote trading, North County Times reports. She was also censured six times by the hospital for acting inappropriately at meetings and attempting to tape-record conversations during closed sessions.
The restraining order filed by Tri-State requires Sterling to stay at least 100 yards away from all hospital personnel. She must attend board meetings via telephone from a nearby facilities building and can only enter the hospital if she requires emergency medical attention.
The lawsuit alleges that on Feb. 24, Sterling pushed past security officers in an effort to get to a board meeting. The hospital and security officer Richard Crooks are seeking damages. Crooks said Sterling tried to “crawl over his right shoulder”; another guard said he sustained a scratch on his arm that drew blood during the incident.
Sterling denies any wrongdoing.
