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Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Lacy Thomas, former CEO of University Medical Center, watches the jury enter the courtroom at the beginning of his trial on charges of theft and misconduct Tuesday, March 23, at the Regional Justice Center.
By Cara McCoy 
Published Friday, April 2, 2010 | 12:03 p.m.
Updated Friday, April 2, 2010 | 12:39 p.m.
Sun Archives
- Jurors hear opening arguments in trial of former UMC chief (3-23-10)
- Jury seated in theft trial of former UMC chief (3-22-10)
- Lacy Thomas’ rising star came crashing down with firing (3-18-10)
- Former UMC chief set to stand trial on theft, misconduct charges (3-18-10)
- A black eye in medicine brings posturing, again (4-9-2009)
- Testimony: Thomas boldly cut iffy deals (2-26-2008)
- Indictment says UMC chief made no-work deals (2-21-2008)
- Former UMC boss indicted (2-20-2008)
- DA will go after former UMC boss (1-04-2008)
The judge presiding over the trial of former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas granted a mistrial Friday morning.
Thomas’ attorney, Dan Albregts, moved for a mistrial after obtaining a binder of information earlier this week. After arguments Friday, District Court Judge Michael P. Villani granted the motion, saying the documents inside the binder could have contained or led to the discovery of exculpatory evidence, which is evidence that is favorable to the defendant.
Thomas was “substantially prejudiced by the lack of disclosure,” Villani said in issuing his ruling.
The binder in question contained more than 500 pages of documents related to ACS Healthcare systems. Metro Police had obtained the binder in the course of their investigation into the contracts at UMC, but because investigators didn’t find wrongdoing on the part of ACS, they didn’t give the documents to prosecutors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Scott Mitchell said.
He hadn’t seen the binder until the motion was filed to admit it into evidence, he said.
In addition to ACS, which was the largest contract and the main focus of testimony so far, other contracts mentioned in the indictment pertain to Frasier Systems Group, TBL Construction, Premier Alliance Management and Crystal Communications.
Albregts and prosecutors declined to comment on the judge’s ruling after the conclusion of Friday’s proceedings.
Villani noted in his ruling that he found no intentional misconduct by prosecutors.
A new jury will hear the case later this year, Villani said. A status check on setting the new trial was set for Thursday.
The trial began March 22 and was expected to conclude next week.
Prosecutors Mitchell and Michael Staudaher are also handling the endoscopy cases set to go to trial later this year, so they weren’t sure when a trial date might be set.
Thomas has been out of custody on bond since shortly after being arrested. After granting the mistrial, Villani agreed to exonerate Thomas’ bond and granted an own-recognizance release.
Thomas led Chicago’s John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, formerly called Cook County Hospital, for 10 years before being recruited to come to UMC.
He came under indictment in February 2008 and was facing 10 felony charges -- five counts of felony theft and five counts of felony misconduct of a public officer.
Mitchell said in his opening statement the former hospital boss cost the county $11 million in taxpayer funds during his three years at the helm of UMC through no-bid or irregular contracts given to Thomas' Chicago associates or friends.
The 10 counts of the indictment stem from Thomas’ tenure at the helm of UMC, which was from 2004 until he was fired in January 2007. County auditors said the hospital had run a $34.3 million deficit the year before Thomas was fired.
But Albregts told the jury that prosecutors wanted to blame Thomas for the county’s own failures with the hospital, which was a money drain when Thomas was hired.
Albregts argued that investigators had assumed they would find evidence that Thomas had been getting kickbacks from awarding the contracts, but even after combing through his bank accounts they found no evidence Thomas got any cut of money paid for the contracts.
Defense attorneys said the indictment was a result of needing to justify the extensive man-hours and amount of money put into investigating Thomas.
If convicted, he could have spent decades in prison.
If the county failed to account for the exculpatory evidence found in the contracts with ASC Healthcare, maybe they can do a little better homework with the other contracts and accusations.
Everyone moves for a mistrial or a directed verdict. Villani's granting the motion had to be somewhat rare in the history of criminal trials.
Does this mean after all this long time he gets off ?
"even after combing through his bank accounts they found no evidence Thomas got any cut of money paid for the contracts."
It's called CASH my friend! And the last place you will find it is in the bank... Who hired this guy?
Doesn't make sense to admit into evidence something that does not support their case. Something is missing.
It's about bloody time the State was held accountable for "forgetting" to disclose information to the defense and then bringing it into the trial. Kudos to Judge Villani!
So, this gives all of the witnesses more time to forget everything! Not to mention more money to start over at the tax payer's expense. It is rediculous it took this long to go to trial and now this pushes it out even longer! One thing I would like to see is some of the UMC folks take responsibility for their own actions and culpability with allowing this to go on as long as it did. I mean if Ernie McKinley knew the work that was being done was really bogus why didn't he man up and "blow the whistle" instead of signing off on spending the money. I can understand that you do what your being told, but what about personal ethics? Just because your boss tells you to go ahead and steal money does not mean your follow through! I think all of the management who knew what was happening or saw the blatant miss-use of funds and did nothing should also be held accountable meaning that at the very least they be removed from their position. Obviously, they cannot be trusted to do the right thing when it comes down to the wire. Why should we continue to "trust" UMC with this kind of situation staring us in the face. It sounds like UMC needs to clean house and put some honest people in charge (this is not to say that Kathy Silver is in any way dishonest - sounds like she is trying her best). I heard a lot of people left UMC either before or after Lacy was fired. Hmm sounds like they had the right idea. The rest of them need to follow this example!
You go Judge Villani!!!!
This casts serious doubt on the State's case. Talk about a miscarriage of justice.
Mr. Thomas when this is all said and done leave that god-awful place and return to Chicago.
If it's a god-awful place Thomas made it one !
Your right! Get back to Chicago where not only is this type of corruption the norm, It's expected!