Ex-Montefiore exec files gender-discrimination suit over firing

A former Montefiore executive is accusing the health system of gender discrimination and breach of contract related to her termination in 2019, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in the Southern District of New York.

Lynn Richmond, former executive vice president and chief strategy officer, alleged in her complaint that Montefiore fired her without notice or cause on Nov. 20, 2019, even though her employment agreement called for at least two years' written notice. Richmond said a lawyer for Montefiore claimed its compensation committee never approved the contract, rendering it null and void.

Calling Montefiore a "male-dominated organization in its upper echelons," Richmond also claimed gender discrimination in the way employees were treated and alleged she "repeatedly observed" improper conduct and sexual harassment in the workplace, including inappropriate touching, references to sex and sexist jokes.

Richmond alleged that President and CEO Dr. Philip Ozuah "did not like it when female employees disagreed with or spoke back to him" and then "excluded them from relevant meetings, seeking to push them out of the organization," the complaint says. She was fired without cause less than a week after Ozuah assumed the CEO role but without the "soft exits" or "glide paths" given to male executives who had been terminated, according to the complaint.

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Joe Solmonese, a Montefiore spokesman, said the claims are false and "were made to coerce a settlement and further enrich Ms. Richmond, who was one of the highest-paid executives at Montefiore."

"Ms. Richmond never had a valid contract. This is a fact she knew but nonetheless took advantage of for her own enrichment," Solmonese said in a statement. "Montefiore will vigorously defend this case and seek to recover the proceeds from this illegal contract."

At Montefiore, Richmond was responsible for strategic planning, the negotiation of acquisitions and partnerships, board relations, governmental affairs and public policy, and the health system's participation in the state's Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program. She oversaw 70-plus people and had an annual salary of $950,000 at the time of her termination, the complaint says.

Richmond is seeking reinstatement, back and front pay, damages and payment of attorneys' fees from Montefiore. A lawyer for Richmond declined to comment for this article or make her available for an interview.

Montefiore has previously been cited in employee discrimination and harassment complaints, including a recent case by a lab technician who alleged a hostile work environment and retaliatory termination after years of race-based harassment from coworkers. Ozuah does not appear to have been the subject of any previous such cases.

Montefiore Health System operates 10 hospitals and more than 200 outpatient sites across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

This story was originally reported in Crain's New York.