A civil lawsuit filed by a Cranberry Township psychologist against Butler County and Controller Jack McMillin apparently won't be going away anytime soon. Psychologist Robert Andolina, who operates Child & Adolescent Clinical Associates, on July 30 filed a statement of intention to proceed with the lawsuit, which alleges damages from delayed payments made to his company and defamation by McMillin. The child psychology firm services juveniles ordered by county judges to undergo treatment. If Andolina had not sent the court the notice to proceed, the case would have been dropped in September due to a lack of activity for two years. McMillin said it's unfortunate the lawsuit is being continued. "It's the taxpayers who are the biggest losers whenever there's litigation," he said. Commissioner James Kennedy, who previously expressed concerns about the company's billing to the county, said he could not comment on this latest development in the case. Robert Lampl, the Pittsburgh attorney representing Andolina, did not reply to an e-mail message. Before the statement to proceed, neither Lampl nor Andolina responded to multiple phone messages about the case. McMillin in 2004 began withholding payments to Andolina's company, citing record-keeping problems listed in a 2002 audit of the firm. Andolina's lawsuit was initially filed in 2005 after county payments to Andolina's firm were delayed. He claimed the firm endured numerous problems, including loss of staff, because the payments were late. McMillin denied the county was responsible for Andolina's financial issues, which included liens and judgments filed by the state and the IRS. Although Andolina's firm eventually was paid, the lawsuit continued. McMillin pointed to sanctions against Andolina by the state Board of Psychology as another reason why the county should reconsider using his firm. In a September 2005 order by the state, Andolina was required to pay a $5,000 fine and complete 45 hours of continuing education in professional ethics. Following the court's July 15 notice this year that the case was going to be terminated, McMillin again questioned why the county employs Andolina's firm. Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, would not comment on the lawsuit, but reiterated Andolina's firm satisfies a need in the juvenile treatment program. Holman said Andolina's firm treats county juveniles with drug addictions and extreme behaviors that could lead to placement outside the home.
