Former Mount Carmel Health System physician William Husel is appealing against a judge's decision to dismiss his defamation case against the health company.
Franklin County Judge Stephen McIntosh stopped the trial in June and issued a directed verdict from the bench. That followed Mount Carmel’s attorneys stating that Husel hadn't proved his case.
Husel was acquitted of murdering more than a dozen patients in a 2022 trial.
Two people who served as jurors on the defamation case, Nicola Barrett and Erica Christie, reached out to WOSU's Debbie Holmes. They say the disagree with the judge's ruling.
Debbie Holmes: Why do you think Husel's defamation case against Mount Carmel Health System should have proceeded with the jury? Nicola?
Nicola Barrett: Based on the evidence I heard in court, I do believe that there was sufficient evidence presented by Dr. Husel's attorneys. I think the case should have gone to the jury for sure, based on the evidence that was presented.
Erica Christie: I would agree. I think at the point that the case was dismissed, there was credible, compelling evidence that was presented by the plaintiffs. And I think that they should have had an ample day in jury, a fair trial, and I think they were denied that given that the case was dismissed so early.
Debbie Holmes: Husel accused his former employer of defaming him during the criminal investigation. He had been accused of over-prescribing medication to his critically ill patients. What stood out to you about the health system's actions? Nicola.
Nicola Barrett: In particular, I think something that stood out to me was...they called her an adverse witness. I think she was from Trinity Health's communications team. The attorney is Dr. Husel's attorney, based on the questions that they asked her, it was very evident that behind the scenes they were plotting, right? They had a strategy going into this. I think Dr. Husel was used as a scapegoat and based on, NPR is what I believe reached out, they wanted to do a story regarding Dr. Heusel being, I think he was awarded or nominated for being Doctor of the Year and that story was killed by Trinity or Mount Carmel. So I think just the whole malicious...it just shows how malicious they were. So that's one of the witnesses that stood out to me the most.
Debbie Holmes: Okay. And Erica?
Erica Christie: I would agree with that as well. In addition to that, I think it was the hiring of a pretty large PR firm and an effort to get all of Trinity's ducks in a row behind the scenes to make sure that their reputation was protected, but at the ultimate sacrifice of Dr. Husel. I think also another piece that stood out to me as credible was when they contacted the families and their statements to the families about him hastening the deaths of their loved ones. I think particularly started the fire in the background.
Debbie Holmes: The survivors of those who died most likely see this as the best outcome, because they blame Husel for their relatives' deaths. What would you say to them?
Erica Christie: From what I heard during testimony, loved ones and the families were very thankful to Dr. Husel during his treatment of their loved ones. They asked him repeatedly to help in addition to what he had already done. They were still in pain and so he was acting at the direction of the families.
Debbie Holmes: Nicola, did you want to add something there?
Nicola Barrett: I was just going to say I know the whole process from the family's perspective. I'm pretty sure it was very emotional, right? And being so emotional, sometimes people look to blame someone else, right, so they're trying to project something that's, to me, it was not their right. But for Mount Carmel and Trinity contacting these families, I think the grieving process, I mean, I think it would ... Mount Carmel and Trinity to me, they kind of disrupted that grieving process for the families.
Debbie Holmes: Thank you so much.
