Union appeals privatization of developmental center
Source: By Sara Eaton, The Journal Gazette (IN), Wed, Jan. 18, 2006
A state employees union is appealing last month’s ruling that allowed the Jan. 1 takeover at the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center, a union spokesman announced late Tuesday. An employee, Anita Stuller, and her union filed a lawsuit against Gov. Mitch Daniels, Family and Social Services Secretary Mitchel Roob and another state leader in early December. The lawsuit sought to at least temporarily stop the takeover of the center and to force the state to go through a bidding process before giving control to a private company. In May, state officials hired Pennsylvania-based Liberty Healthcare Corp. to manage the center on an 18-month contract. The company took over operations of the center at 4900 St. Joe Center Road on Jan. 1.