Lexington Regional Health Center and it’s CEO Leslie Marsh are named in a lawsuit filed by a former employee. Donald Nichelson alleges defamation and retaliation in violation of the Family Medical Leave Act. The suit was originally filed in state court in Indiana on February 2, 2023, where Nichelson now lives. It was then moved to Indiana federal court and on January 4, 2024 transferred to Nebraska federal court in North Platte.
Nichelson was employed by LRHC as Network Administrator from June 6, 2014 until his employment was terminated on April 7, 2021. His petition says that in the Fall of 2020, the CEO’s iCloud account was compromised. A couple of months later, Nichelson was granted medical leave, then the entire IT department was suspended. Nichelson’s employment was later terminated, while still on medical leave.
Nichelson alleges he did not engage in unauthorized activity with the CEO’s account, nor take any actions to harm LRHC. He states that an outside investigation found no evidence linking him to the CEO’s account.
The defendants had previously sought to dismiss the case while in Indiana federal court.
