Former Steward Health CEO Barred from Suing Senate Committee

The US Constitution’s speech and debate clause bars the former chief executive officer of a major health-care firm from suing a congressional committee and its members, a federal trial court said.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee enjoyed absolute immunity from a suit based on its subpoena directing Ralph de la Torre to appear and testify about the causes and effects of Steward Health Care System’s bankruptcy, the US District Court for the District of Columbia said Tuesday. Judge Trevor N. McFadden dismissed the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, rejecting de la Torre’s argument that the ...