Opinion ID: 1702659
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: rounsborg's retirement plans

Text: Orr retired from Radiology Services on January 31, 2002. Rounsborg gave written notice to Radiology Services in January 2003 that he intended to retire on or about July 1, 2005, and that he was giving advance notice to give Radiology Services adequate time to plan for his departure and recruit a replacement if necessary. In late 2003, Rounsborg hired Sam Mazzuca to evaluate Radiology Services. As part of the evaluation, Mazzuca talked with the other radiologists in the group and concluded that Rounsborg might have an alcohol problem. Mazzuca met with Hall, one of Rounsborg's sons, and two of Rounsborg's friends. Mazzuca expressed his concerns about Rounsborg's performance, which included memory loss, depression, and an alcohol problem. Mazzuca asked Hall to participate in a discussion of these problems with Rounsborg. On December 1, 2003, Hall went with Mazzuca to meet Rounsborg to discuss Mazzuca's concerns. Mazzuca told Rounsborg that Radiology Services wanted him to be evaluated and take a 90-day disability leave. After the 90 days, Rounsborg could go back to work if he complied with any recommendations in the evaluation. Rounsborg did not agree that he had a problem or with the disability status and continued to work his scheduled hours. Because he believed the other radiologists at Radiology Services were determined that he not return to work, Rounsborg agreed to take what he characterized as a leave of absence with pay from December 15, 2003, through March 15, 2004, and to obtain an alcohol assessment. During this time, Radiology Services paid him $38,194.58. On December 3, 2003, Hall drafted an agreement between Rounsborg and Radiology Services that gave Rounsborg the option to retire on March 15, 2004. The agreement ended with a disclaimer that Hall was Rounsborg's daughter and that Radiology Services had ample opportunity to seek counsel from another source. Neither party executed this agreement. On December 10, 2003, Wu notified Hall that Radiology Services was discontinuing its relationship with her and seeking alternative counsel to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. At a meeting of Radiology Services' board on January 15, 2004, the board removed Rounsborg as an officer of the corporation and elected Wu to serve as president. It also confirmed the discharge of Hall as the corporation's attorney. Rounsborg resolved to leave Radiology Services after the January 15 corporate meeting. The next day, he notified Wu of his intention to retire as of March 15. Great Plains Radiology subsequently contacted Rounsborg regarding the possibility of his working with them as an independent contractor. Rounsborg advised Great Plains Radiology of his competition restrictions pursuant to the ETAR, including that he agreed to refrain from working for or soliciting work from Radiology Services' clients with whom he had contact. He sent Great Plains Radiology a list of the hospitals that fell under this agreement. Hall then assisted Rounsborg in setting up a corporation through which he could work as an independent contractor. Despite these arrangements, Rounsborg never worked for Great Plains Radiology or any other radiology group after he retired from Radiology Services.