FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gentiva Health Services Intends to Challenge Ohio Judgement
Melville, N.Y., November 27, 2000--Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq: GTIV),
the nation's leading provider of specialty pharmaceutical distribution and home
health care services, today announced that it intends to vigorously pursue
post-trial challenges to a verdict issued on November 22, 2000 in the Mahoning
County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas.
In this case, an age discrimination lawsuit first filed in 1998, a jury
returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff against Olsten Health Services
Corp. and Olsten Corporation (the former parent of Gentiva Health Services),
consisting of $675,000 in compensatory damages, $30 million in punitive damages,
and an undetermined award of attorneys' fees. In connection with Gentiva's
split-off from Olsten Corporation in March 2000, Gentiva agreed to assume all
liabilities of Olsten Corporation arising out of its health services business
and to indemnify Olsten Corporation for such liabilities.
Gentiva announced this morning that the defendants will pursue a number of
post-trial options in response to the verdict. The company strongly believes
that there are meritorious grounds upon which to challenge the trial's outcomes.
Gentiva this morning has filed Form 8-K in relation to the November 22,
2000 jury verdict.
Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq: GTIV) is the nation's leading provider of
specialty pharmaceutical distribution and home health care services. With more
than 300 locations in the United States, the company had approximately $1.5
billion in 1999 revenues. For more information, visit Gentiva's Web site,
www.gentiva.com.
Information contained in this news release, other than historical
information, should be considered forward-looking, and is subject to various
risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the company's strategies and
operations involve risks of competition, changing market conditions, changes in
laws and regulations affecting our industries and numerous other factors
discussed in this release and in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from
those anticipated in any forward-looking statements.
Contact: Michael Johns
Vice President, Communications
Gentiva Health Services
3 Huntington Quadrangle, 2S
Melville, NY 11747-8943
(631) 501-7442
[email protected]
Investor Contact: John J. Collura
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer
Gentiva Health Services
(631) 501-7437
