Defamation Suit Names UCI Medical Center Director

Already under fire in a management audit that accuses her of retaliating against employees, the executive director of UCI Medical Center faces new allegations of reprisals from another medical center worker, according to a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court on Monday.

Ann E. Siemens, the center’s former director of development, accuses Executive Director Mary Piccione and two other defendants of wrongful termination, defamation and causing emotional distress.

Siemens, 41, who worked at the Orange center for 2 1/2 years before being fired June 30, 1994, is seeking unspecified general and punitive damages. She declined to comment on the lawsuit.

A spokeswoman said Piccione was out of town and could not be reached for comment. But at a state Senate hearing last week, Piccione, 60, denied ever retaliating against any medical center employee.

A management audit, conducted by University of San Diego law professors Charles Wiggins and Allen Snyder and released last week, concluded that Piccione retaliated against three whistle-blowers who had raised concerns about questionable practices at UCI’s Center for Reproductive Health.

The whistle-blowers, who received a total of more than $900,000 in settlements, sparked charges that the center’s three world-famous doctors stole human eggs, used unauthorized drugs and failed to report income to the university and the federal government.

Siemens’ lawsuit also names Dr. Michael W. Berns, a UCI professor of surgery, and the UC Board of Regents.

Berns declined to comment on allegations in the suit that he sexually harassed Siemens. Before working at the center, Siemens worked for 15 years for Berns, a co-founder and director of the Beckman Laser Institute on the UCI campus.

“I’m unaware of the charges,” said Berns, 52, who supervises medical research in laser use. “I can’t comment on them.”

University officials were also unavailable for comment.

Siemens, a Lake Forest resident, accuses Berns and Piccione of “maliciously” creating a hostile work environment, which included intimidation, according to her lawsuit. Siemens also alleges that Berns and Piccione lied to potential employers in explaining that Siemens was terminated because she was dishonest, incompetent and a poor worker.

Siemens “has suffered and continues to suffer embarrassment, humiliation and mental anguish,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also accuses the defendants of discriminating against her because she is a woman.

In preparing the legal groundwork for Monday’s lawsuit, Siemens filed charges of discrimination and retaliation with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in June, 1994.