By Andrea Bulfinch, Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.
March 27--SOMERSWORTH -- Charles Maymon, regional chief executive officer for American Ambulance Service of New England (AASNE), says recent allegations made by American Medical Response (AMR) claiming intellectual property theft and violation of a noncompete policy are not legitimate.
Maymon says the company, regionally based out of Hyde Park, Mass., intends to defend claims brought by the competing ambulance service against four former AMR employees.
"The lawsuit is baseless," Maymon said.
According to AMR General Manager for New Hampshire and Maine, Chris Stawasz, four individuals are named in the lawsuit, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, Mass. They are AASNE General Manager and former AMR employee Paul Robidas, AASNE Chief Operating Officer and former AMR New England general manager of 20 years Brendan McNiff, and former AMR employees Christopher Hogan and Ian Bryant.
A court clerk confirmed the individuals being named in the suit.
None of the claims constitute criminal allegations, Maymon said.
Stawasz responded to Maymon's comment of the claims being "baseless" by saying AMR believes them to be completely true and that court documents clearly explain the claims.
Stawasz said that due to the ongoing litigation process, he could not comment on why the company believes that or what specific circumstances prompted the suit.
The two companies, along with a third, Careplus Ambulance Services, have filed Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with Somersworth, where AMR currently provides services.
Maymon said he believes this is just a tactic by AMR to interrupt the RFP process.
"The essence of the lawsuit, from our perspective, is to gain a competitive advantage over American Ambulance Service," he said.
The current AMR contract will expire June 30.
While AMR has its roots in the local community, including the towns of Eliot and Kittery, Maine, AASNE was recently purchased by Scandinavian based company Falck, which, according to the AASNE website, is "deeply rooted in emergency medical services."
AASNE was originally founded in 1964 in Florida. AMR is currently also contracted with the cities of Nashua and Manchester.
Maymon said that at this point no equipment or materials have been seized from the Somersworth office, which has been operating from its Route 108 location for about six months.
AMR is located on High Street in Somersworth.
Many of the more than 30 AASNE employees are former staff of AMR.
"We're upset by this, undoubtedly," Maymon said. "But we'll take the high road."
He said the company will continue to see the RFP process through with the city.
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©2013 the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.)
Visit the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) at www.fosters.com
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