Everett v. Penick Ends in Plea

Remember the deposition we told you about last issue during which verbal fisticuffs allegedly took a physical turn?

That incident between lawyers John Everett of Fayetteville and Jim Penick of Little Rock erupted in Everett’s Fayetteville office in connection with a long-running lawsuit. The case involves a complaint seeking more than $5 million in damages brought by Teton Investments LLC, Surgery Center of Fayetteville LLC, Wallace Rowland, Dr. Kenneth Martin and Josh Lane.

The litigation revolves around the April 2009 opening of Physicians’ Specialty Hospital at 3873 Parkview Drive in Fayetteville. Yeah, the hospital that made news earlier this year as the medical treatment destination of choice by former University of Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino after his infamous April 1 motorcycle wreck.

The defendants are Dr. James Blankenship, Dr. Rob Tomlinson, Dr. Terry Sites, Dr. David Cannon, Russ Greene, Don Harrison and Physician’s Surgery Center of Fayetteville LLC.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs — represented by Penick — were defrauded in their dealings with the defendants regarding their ownership in and management of Physician’s Surgery Center as well as the defendants’ launch of Physicians’ Specialty Hospital. The case is scheduled for trial in Pulaski County Circuit Court Feb. 4-15.

Everett, we heard, pleaded no contest to the charge of third-degree battery in Fayetteville District Court. He received a suspended sentence and a fine.

We called the court clerk to find out the amount. Oddly enough, we were told we needed to know Everett’s date of birth before the office could look up case information.