CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals voted to put a hold on a Kanawha circuit judge’s order to release documents related to the hospital merger between Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center.
The West Virginia Supreme Court voted on Wednesday 3-1 to stop the release of the 89 documents, granting West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s motion.
Morrisey is currently appealing Kaufman’s ruling.
The case began when Steel of West Virginia sued Morrisey after he refused to release the records about the merger between the hospitals. Steel claims that the merger will increase healthcare costs and lower the quality of patient care in the area.
Morrisey obtained the documents during an investigation and has argued that the law prohibits his office from releasing the information whether they would want to release it or not.
Justices Allen Loughry II, Brent K. Benjamin and Menis Ketchum voted to approve the stay, while Justice Robin Jean Davis dissented. Justice Margaret Workman did not take part in the decision.
