Ex-Executive Sues Managed Care Firm

A former top executive at Orange Coast Managed Care Services Inc. filed a lawsuit Thursday, accusing the Orange-based company of breach of contract and fraud in dismissing her earlier this week.

Leanne P. Spaide, 40, says in the suit that she was terminated without cause from her $145,000-a-year job as a division president, despite a long-term employment contract that, among other things, entitled her to sizable company stock options. She had been with the company since 1989.

Orange Coast Managed Care is the management company of St. Joseph Medical Corp., a large doctors group that works closely with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. St. Joseph Medical Corp. last month announced an agreement to merge with Monarch HealthCare Inc.

Spaide’s suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court. Chris Ohman, Orange Coast’s chief financial officer, said the company’s policy is not to comment on pending litigation.