A settlement conference in the lawsuits between West Suburban Medical Center operator Manoj Prasad and landlord Rathnaker Patlola was continued for the third time Thursday, as both sides apparently are waiting on Prasad to produce a key document.
Attorneys will meet again at 11 a.m. July 14 for what might be a conclusion. Patrick Stanton, the Cook County judge hearing the case, is clearly reaching a point of frustration.
Another pending deadline for the shuttered hospital comes from ComEd. Scott Kaplan, attorney for Patlola, said July 15 is the utility’s final deadline before it shuts off power to the shuttered hospital.
Kaplan told Stanton Wednesday was the utility’s final extension.
Kaplan expressed both some optimism and also frustration in comments to the judge. He told Stanton, “I do think we have a potential compromise.” But he also expressed frustration at the pace of the process, saying, “We’re really getting to the end of our rope here.”
“There’s some resistance from the other side we’re trying to work through here.”
Stanton looked at Howard Brookins, the attorney who just this week took over representing Resilience Health after attorney Martin Tasch withdrew. Stanton told Brookins, “You jumped on to a moving ship. We are going to be taking this to a resolution quickly,” said Stanton.