Your browser doesn't support audio playback.
The sale of four state run health care facilities is back on track.
Just last week, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Matthew S. Delligatti issued a temporary restraining order against the sale of the John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center in Fairmont to Marx Development Group.
Acting as a private attorney, Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, filed a motion to stop the sale on behalf of his client Mary Devito, a resident of the facility.
Tuesday, Delligatti lifted the restraining order saying the governor did have the legal authority to sell the facility.
Garcia issued a statement after the decision. “We are disappointed in the outcome,” he said, “but I am very proud of my client, Mary Jo DeVito, and her daughter, Cathie Metheny, for fighting to protect the residents and staff at the John Manchin facility, and our community in Marion County.”
In August, Morrisey announced plans to sell four state-run medical facilities: Hopemont Hospital in Terra Alta, Jackie Withrow Hospital in Raleigh County, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center in Fairmont and Lakin Hospital in Mason County by the end of September.
At the time, Morrisey said the hospitals are licensed for 511 beds, although not all of them are currently in use.
“Marx Development Group, or MDG, has agreed to purchase these assets from the state of West Virginia for $60 billion,” Morrisey said. “And in addition, as part of the deal, MDG has also agreed that it would be investing in West Virginia to construct new facilities.”
Morrisey said the sale will help the state avoid an estimated $100 million in costs to renovate the buildings and that the four facilities have been operating at a $6 million annual loss.
In a Wednesday press conference, Morrisey addressed the decision in response to a question from a reporter.
“As you recall, yesterday, I expressed optimism that we would eventually prevail,” he said. “You can never predict whether you’re going to win at the Circuit Court level or Supreme Court level, but you know when you’re right in terms of the legal issues, and it was so clear that we had the authority to do what we did, and so we were really gratified that the judge affirmed that that thinking, and we are proceeding forward.”
Morrisey said he expects to close the sale on Friday.