"The superintendent at the center of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home crisis is challenging an independent investigator’s conclusions about his qualifications for the job and hinted at potential legal action to fight his impending termination.
An attorney for Bennett Walsh, who has been on paid administrative leave since late March as COVID-related deaths in the facility mounted, said Walsh was not given an opportunity to rebut portions of the report by former prosecutor Mark Pearlstein before its publication.
Pearlstein’s report outlined management issues before the pandemic began and a series of “utterly baffling” decisions that led to the deaths of at least 76 veteran residents. The investigation concluded that Walsh was not “not qualified” to lead the facility.
Walsh’s attorney, former Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett, is “reviewing legal options” after Gov. Charlie Baker said while releasing the report that he would fire Walsh. Such a move, Bennett said, “violates the order of the Superior Court and denies Mr. Walsh the opportunity for a fair and public hearing.”
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https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200625/superintendent-challenges-pearlstein-report
Press release on report = https://www.mass.gov/news/independent-investigation-examining-the-tragedy-at-the-holyoke-soldiers-home-released
Report itself = https://www.mass.gov/doc/report-to-governor-baker-re-holyoke-soldiers-home/download
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