Thurs, 1 March 2012

It is business as usual for international healthcare recruiter Healthcare Locums, despite legal proceedings in the US.

In a statement the company says: “It has come to the attention of the Board of Healthcare Locums plc that proceedings have been filed against Healthcare Locums plc, Kathleen V Bleasdale, Diane Jarvis and Alan Walker (all being previous directors of Healthcare Locums plc) in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

“The proceedings have been filed by Permian Master Fund, LP; Permian Investments Partners, LP; Arundel Capital LLC; Arundel Long Fund LP; Arundel Hedge Fund LP; Privet Capital, LLC and Flinn Investments, LLC.

“The Summons and Complaint allege that Healthcare Locums plc and the named former directors made misrepresentations during 2010 concerning the Company’s profitability and its accounting practices.

“The Summons and Complaint have not as yet been served on Healthcare Locums plc. However, the Company is taking legal advice and will update shareholders as and when appropriate.”

All three individuals named in the court left the company last year after the discovery of accounting irregularities at HCL.

Healthcare Locums admitted last year that it had misstated its accounts in previous periods.

A spokesperson for HCL tells Recruiter that despite reports in the press that HCL is being sued, this is not the case.

“Anyone can file proceedings, the court has yet to decide whether or not there is a case to be brought against HCL,” says the spokesperson. The spokesperson emphasises that the case is being held in a US court, and that no Summons and Complaint has yet been made against the company.

The spokesperson adds that the company is aware of the legal proceedings in the US, but that the focus is on running the business.