It's been more than four days since Sharon Regional Medical Center's sale to Tenor Health was approved in bankruptcy court but the hospital has yet to reopen. 

Community concern is lingering that Medical Properties Trust might not move forward with the reopening unless all parties are in agreement of the sale.

A Buhl Legacy Trust meeting is happening on Wednesday, January 15, and could delay the reopening if the trust's litigation moves forward. This is because MPT is hesitant to reopen the facility with the litigation looming.

The Legacy Trust has argued discrepancies involving who owns the hospital, stating its previous owners, Community Health Systems agreed not to sell the hospital for five years.

When SRMC was sold to Steward Health, the Legacy Trust claims it was not stated that MPT would own the building and lease it to Steward. Legacy Trust's board believes that's a violation of their agreement and is suing to get the hospital back.

MPT told 21 News Tenor Health was given $10 million from MPT and an additional $10 million from community donors. 

Medical Properties Trust issued this statement to 21 News:

"MPT believes in the essential nature of our hospital real estate to communities around the world and we never want to see any of these facilities close their doors. We have done everything in our power to prevent that outcome with Sharon Hospital – including participating in countless rounds of discussions with the potential buyers or lessees, the Commonwealth, and other stakeholders in the bankruptcy case to clear the way to re-open the hospital. We have spent countless hours in mediation sessions with all affected parties. We believed we had reached an arrangement under which Tenor Health, in part with over $10 million in financial support from MPT, would lease the hospital and re-open it for the benefit of the community. Other members of the Sharon Community have generously matched MPT's support with another $10 MM in support, for a total of $20 MM in support. Steward filed the proposed transaction with the Bankruptcy Court on Friday and it received approval on Friday afternoon.


"While all other affected stakeholders including the Commonwealth were committed to the success of this arrangement, the Buhl Trust has not yet decided whether it will satisfy a key closing condition contained in the Bankruptcy Court's order. To be clear, the Buhl Trust is not being asked for any financial support, only to confirm it will not pursue claims against those who are supporting re-opening the hospital, something the Commonwealth agreed to. If the Trust votes against supporting the arrangement on Wednesday morning, then MPT and Tenor Health will be unable to move forward and the re-opening will not take place. In that event, MPT remains committed to Sharon Hospital and hopes there will be another opportunity in the future to bring the hospital back for the people of Sharon."

Atty. Robert Lackey, Legacy Trust's attorney told 21 News they "do not plan to take any action that interferes with Tenor's efforts to reopen the hospital. Legacy Trust has not abandoned its claims against Steward or MPT."

Lackey calls MPT delaying the opening because of Legacy Trust's litigation "ludicrous, offensive, and a piece of blackmail."

Lackey explained to 21 News MPT still has the opportunity to move forward with a deal if Buhl Legacy Trust does not forgive its claims. 

A hearing in the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas is scheduled for January 28 with the state attorney general.

The Buhl Legacy Trust Board directed any media questions to Atty. Lackey. Wednesday morning's meeting will be closed to the public.