Another six-figure payout at Parkland, another requirement for silence

When John Jay Shannon, Parkland Memorial Hospital's chief medical officer, was shown the door last month as part of an executive shakeup, he pocketed a $487,656 severance payment. He also received assurances that Parkland will pay for his defense in legal actions related to his work at the hospital "to the extent" provided by laws, according to the separation agreement I obtained. The pact does not explicitly say why Shannon will be paid about the same amount as his annual salary when he no longer will stay in his job. Such big parting payouts to former Parkland chiefs aren't unusual.