EXCLUSIVE: Betty Ford Center Reports Fired Worker To Attorney General In Lindsay Lohan Scandal
Dec. 22 2010, Published 11:19 a.m. ET
A lawyer for the Betty Ford Center formally contacted the California Attorney General’s office late Tuesday, reporting the actions of its fired worker in the Lindsay Lohan case as a possible HIPAA violation, Breaking Celebrity News has learned exclusively.
Dawn Holland was fired by the rehab center Tuesday as Breaking Celebrity News first reported. In a statement, Betty Ford said Holland "violated strict confidentiality guidelines and laws by publicly identifying patients in a media interview and by disclosing a privileged document."
Holland admitted to Breaking Celebrity News that TMZ paid her at least $10,000 for her information on Lindsay Lohan and she also gave them a document disclosing what happened the night she says Lindsay attacked her.
Now, Holland and TMZ could be facing a criminal investigation for violating HIPAA.
When contacted by Breaking Celebrity News, the treatment center's rep Russ Patrick said "no comment." However, a second source confirmed that the story was accurate.
A source with direct knowledge of the situation told Breaking Celebrity News: “The Betty Ford Center is extremely concerned about this situation and taking it very seriously. That’s why they immediately reported this to the California Attorney General’s offfice.”
“Yes ma'am,” Holland told a Breaking Celebrity News reporter Tuesday night when asked if she was paid by TMZ to speak out about her clash with Lohan in the early hours of December 12.