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Forced to resign after sexual harassment and now giving a podiatry school commencement address

Discussion in 'USA' started by NewsBot, May 17, 2018.

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  1. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    A business owner forced to resign after sexual harassment and drug allegations is now giving a medical school commencement speech

    Full story
     
  2. AtomAnt

    AtomAnt Active Member

    Yikes
     
  3. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    I hear on the grapevine that the NYCPM commencement address has been cancelled.
     
  4. Last edited: May 19, 2018
  5. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    Have picked up on a few comments to that affect...effectively calling out PMNews for not going to cover it and challenging them to cover it. I would have thought it was a big story.
     
  6. DrPod

    DrPod Active Member

    PM News won't cover this. His foundation is an advertiser in PM News. Money rules.
     
  7. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Press Release:
    Bako Diagnostics Responds to Recent Statements Made by Dr. Bradley Bakotic
    ATLANTA. Jun. 26, 2018 – At Bako Diagnostics, among our highest priorities are upholding the quality and integrity of our work, maintaining the utmost professional standards, and ensuring that our company provides a safe workplace for our employees. As a result of false and misleading public statements being made by our former CEO, Dr. Bradley Bakotic, we now find it necessary to clarify the facts of his termination from Bako Diagnostics in an equally-public manner.

    Dr. Bakotic was terminated from Bako Diagnostics on September 8, 2017 after allegations of misconduct were made against him and following a comprehensive, independent investigation conducted by the company’s outside counsel, Latham & Watkins. During this investigation, Dr. Bakotic admitted to instances of misconduct including sexual relationships with subordinate female employees, as well as physically assaulting one of the female employees with whom he was having an ongoing relationship. Latham & Watkins also received multiple allegations of illegal drug use by Dr. Bakotic, which they found to be credible. As a result, a Special Committee of the Board of Bako Diagnostics saw no other choice but to terminate Dr. Bakotic’s employment.

    We find Dr. Bakotic’s alteration of these facts and proclamations of his innocence, particularly after his admission to the assault, to be disingenuous and potentially damaging to the reputation of Bako Diagnostics and its employees. The facts speak for themselves and are clearly described and outlined in legal filings.

    We wish to set the record straight and focus our attention on delivering the highest quality laboratory services and products for our valued clients. We are confident in the merits of our case and look forward to our day in court when Bako Diagnostics can continue without these distractions.

    ABOUT BAKO DIAGNOSTICS
    Bako Diagnostics is a provider of diagnostic and therapeutic services for the Podiatric Medical Community with a unique focus on pathology of the lower extremity. Bako’s comprehensive testing menu includes ENFD Analysis, Mass Spectrometry, for rapid identification of bacteria from culture specimens, and Molecular Genetics for the detection of micro-organisms and as a diagnostic aid in certain pathologic diagnoses. Bako’s in-network services are available through its more than 250 million covered lives, including all five national health plans and fully compliant patient-friendly billing policies. Over the past nine years, Bako has evolved into one of the podiatric profession’s principal sources of educational sponsorship.
     
  8. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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  9. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Bako Diagnostics’ Open Letter
    to the Podiatry Medical Community

    Dear Podiatric Medical Community,

    In light of our steadfast commitment to the podiatry community and ongoing support of education in our industry, we are reaching out as Bako Diagnostics has been made aware of continued disparaging, misleading and inaccurate comments being made by our former CEO, Dr. Bradley Bakotic. Based upon these inaccuracies and in the spirit of full transparency, we are providing the legal documents that we’ve filed and the facts related to this situation.

    Just two months ago, we informed the public that we hoped to set the record straight about the behavior that led to Dr. Bakotic’s termination from the company and the actions he has since taken to degrade the sterling reputation of Bako Diagnostics as well as reiterating our continued focus on delivering the highest quality laboratory services and products and educational outreach that our valued clients and the podiatric profession have come to expect.

    It is therefore under unfortunate circumstances that we feel compelled to provide a further update. As we’ve stated before, at Bako Diagnostics, our highest priorities include upholding the quality and integrity of our work, maintaining the utmost professional standards, ensuring that our company provides a safe workplace for our employees and supporting the next generation of podiatric medical professionals. Given these values, we are incredibly saddened by the events that have transpired over the last year. No leadership team or corporate board wants to be in a position to make a difficult decision about whether the company’s CEO is fit to continue to lead, particularly when faced with pointed questions about if the company tolerates a culture where professional standards can be breached and employee welfare is jeopardized.

    After receiving an explicit and disturbing letter complete with graphic images from the legal counsel of a Bako employee alleging that Dr. Bakotic pursued a sexual relationship with and later physically struck her and claiming that he created a hostile work environment fraught with violence and sexual harassment, a special committee of the company’s board saw no other option but to investigate the allegations of misconduct. Immediately, the committee hired outside counsel, Latham & Watkins, to conduct a comprehensive, independent investigation, during which Dr. Bakotic admitted, with his lawyer present, to instances of misconduct, including sexual relationships with subordinate female employees, as well as physically striking one of the female employees with whom he was having an ongoing relationship. Latham & Watkins also received multiple allegations of illegal drug use by Dr. Bakotic, which they found to be credible. While Dr. Bakotic has since stated he did not settle with the female employee, his statements are in direct contrast to what her legal counsel publicly confirmed in February 2018 when her lawyer told Delaware Law Weekly affiliate Daily Report that his client reached confidential agreements with Dr. Bakotic and the company.

    At the conclusion of the investigation, Latham & Watkins provided a recommendation to the committee that Dr. Bakotic be terminated. The committee notified Dr. Bakotic of his termination on September 8, 2017 but did not rule out a future role for Dr. Bakotic to serve in an advisory capacity to Bako, if he successfully completed counseling and demonstrated that he could be a good corporate citizen. At the time, the committee was hopeful that Dr. Bakotic would recognize his digressions and seek the appropriate help he needed to rejoin the Bako community. In fact, many of us were not only deeply troubled by Dr. Bakotic’s behavior uncovered in the investigation but were puzzled by his actions, which seemed to contradict the man we all thought we knew. Just a few years ago, we looked to Dr. Bakotic as one of the most impressive leaders and innovators in our industry.

    It is with further disappointment that we have witnessed Dr. Bakotic’s unprofessional and erratic behavior since his termination from the company. Rather than reflecting on his actions that led to his termination, and working with the Company to remain part of the Bako community, he has repeatedly altered the facts of his departure and proclaimed his innocence, which we find to be disingenuous and unethical, particularly after his admission to physically striking a female employee. Moreover, Dr. Bakotic has undertaken legal action against the company, asking the court to nullify his non-compete agreements, while failing to mention that he signed the agreements voluntarily and as part of a 2016 transaction where he sold certain interests in the company for over $30 million. These types of non-compete agreements are commonplace in business and are critical components of allowing Bako to continue to conduct business without unfair competition. We had no choice but to respond with our own legal claims following Dr. Bakotic’s lawsuit.

    As a result of Dr. Bakotic’s continued disregard for his non-compete agreements, Bako Diagnostics recently sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Dr. Bakotic in an effort to protect our business and safeguard these important contractual promises made by Dr. Bakotic. Initially, Bako Diagnostics was supportive of Dr. Bakotic’s intention to continue lecturing and educating in the podiatry community and if Dr. Bakotic would simply abide by the terms of his non-compete agreement, this TRO would no longer be necessary. But despite many months of discussions aimed at finding an amicable solution, we took this action in response to Dr. Bakotic’s continued attempt to disrupt the company’s business operations and our conclusion that Dr. Bakotic’s Rhett Foundation is being used as a tool to directly violate his non-compete agreement.

    These facts speak for themselves and are clearly described and outlined in our legal filings, a full copy of which can be found here.

    Despite the ongoing distractions, Bako Diagnostics remains committed to supporting our more than 250 employees, current and potential clients, and the next generation of the podiatry community. We are optimistic about the future of the industry and believe that it is important to stand up for what we believe is right and ethical in challenging times like these. We believe in fostering an inclusive community where misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated and with this letter, reiterate our commitment to protect the integrity of the podiatry community.

    If you have any questions about this matter please see Bako Diagnostics’ FAQ or feel free to reach out to us directly. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to our ongoing relationship.

    Sincerely,

    Bako Diagnostics

    Case Information: The Court filings related to Bradley Bakotic, et al. v. Bakotic Pathology LP, et al; may be found under Case Number: N17C-12-337 WCC in the Superior Court of New Castle County, Delaware

    The Court filings related to BAKO PATHOLOGY LP and BPA HOLDING CORP., v. BRADLEY BAKOTIC and JOSEPH HACKEL; may be found under Case Number: 2018-0520- in the Chancery of the State of Delaware.


    https://bakoticbakolitigation.com/
     
  10. Dieter Fellner

    Dieter Fellner Well-Known Member

    I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgment ... not unheard of to witness a witch hunt, looks plausible on the face of it - if you cannot know the hidden agenda and all of the facts. My 2c .... resist a knee jerk reaction to media (and vested interest) reporting and give your colleague the benefit of doubt.
     
  11. Stanley

    Stanley Well-Known Member

    What is there to cover? Was Bakotic found guilty of anything? If you are charged for something, and you didn't do it, do you want your rights taken away until you are found guilty?
     
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