Hicksville, OH – August 30, 2024 – The Defiance County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas (the “Court”), has appointed Gibbins Advisors (Ohio), LLC, acting through its manager Ronald Winters, as receiver (the “Receiver”) over Community Memorial Hospital (“CMH”) operated by the Mark Milford Hicksville Joint Township Hospital District (the “District”).
The receivership was commenced upon the complaint and motion of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (“OPERS”) seeking to recover funds of current or former employees that allegedly were not paid to OPERS.
The Court’s order appointing the Receiver authorized the Receiver to discontinue CMH’s business operations. Following appointment of the Receiver, CMH’s existing management recommended that CMH be closed in light of the status of existing business operations, including CMH’s significant financial challenges going back to at least 2016, the lack of any viable partner for an immediate transaction to sell CMH as a going concern, and CMH’s inability to obtain consent from the Ohio State Tax Commissioner, as required under Ohio law, to enter into bankruptcy. The Receiver has accepted this recommendation and determined that CMH will formally close effective August 31, 2024.
The Receiver’s decision to close CMH formalizes the existing business reality. While the last day of patient care was May 19, 2024, there was no party with authority to formally end CMH’s business operations due to the en masse resignation of CMH’s Board of Governors last spring.
Closure of CMH will also result in liquidation of its assets in order to provide repayment to creditors. The Receiver will also determine CMH’s obligations for retention of patient medical records and take appropriate steps to comply with them.
Patients seeking information about medical records or other patient-related matters can obtain more information by e-mailing the Receiver at CMHpatient@gibbinsadvisors.com.
Creditors, vendors, and other parties seeking information can contact the Receiver by e-mailing CMHcreditor@gibbinsadvisors.com.
Editor’s Note: More updates will be coming soon.
