Trinity Medical Center Breaks Deal with Irondale

by VICTORIA L. COMAN Birmingham News staff writer from al.com

Trinity Medical Center is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the city of Irondale for backing out of a plan to build a hospital in the city.

Among other claims, Trinity says the breach-of-contract claim is invalid because its lease agreement with Irondale did not obligate Trinity to build a hospital. It was uncertain at the time whether Trinity could obtain state approval to build the hospital, according to Trinity’s motion to dismiss the suit, which was filed Monday in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The Irondale City Council met in a closed session Tuesday night to get a report from City Attorney Greg Morris on the filing. Morris said Irondale expects to file its response in a week to 10 days.

Trinity’s move to a site off Interstate 459 in Irondale was announced in 2006. Last year, Trinity decided instead to move to the partly built HealthSouth hospital on U.S. 280.

Irondale sued, claiming it will not be able to pay off the $32 million in bonds it issued to support the project without the tax revenues from the development. The city asked Trinity to make good on its promise to build a hospital on 154 acres that Irondale is leasing to Trinity, or to pay compensatory and punitive damages.