The Tennessee Supreme Court has removed a contempt ruling placed on attorneys John Konvalinka and Jennifer Lawrence in connection with a lawsuit involving some physicians and Erlanger Hospital.
The attorneys represent Dr. Alex Stratienko, who sued Erlanger after the hospital suspended his privileges after he had a run-in with another doctor. Dr. Stratienko continues to practice at Erlanger while the case continues.
A "stay on proceedings" was placed on the case while one issue was being appealed to a higher court.
During that time, attorney Konvalinka, represented by attorney Lawrence, filed suit in Chancery Court seeking access to certain Erlanger records under the state open records law.
Erlanger sought the contempt order and it was approved by the Tennessee Court of Appeals on grounds the attorneys should not have been proceeding with actions involving the case while the stay was in effect.
The state high court ruled that the stay order was not so specific that it prohibited the attorneys from seeking the hospital records.
It was directed that the case be remanded for lifting of the contempt order.