Suit against Tenet in Memorial Medical Center's Katrina deaths is settled

Tenet Healthcare Corp. and attorneys for people who stayed at Memorial Medical Center in the traumatic days after Hurricane Katrina agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit against the company on Wednesday, both sides announced. Attorneys had begun the jury selection process earlier this week for a trial at Orleans Parish Civil District Court that was expected to last as long as six weeks. But the settlement, which still requires the approval of Judge Rosemary Ledet, means no trial will occur. The plaintiffs accused Tenet of neglecting to anticipate and prepare for the loss of power after the storm, as well as failing to develop and follow proper evacuation plans and take other necessary emergency-preparedness steps. The terms of the settlement were not released on Wednesday.