Keith Bradkowski, who joined the hospital in July 1997, cited a letter written by nurse Esther Blau to the business manager of a labor union that represents licensed vocational nurses. The letter indicates copies were sent to the Marin Healthcare District and to the Marin Independent Journal. The IJ did not publish the letter.

Bradkowski’s lawsuit was filed by Albert Bianchi, the San Rafael lawyer who is serving as the hospital's defense attorney in another legal action In his complaint, Bradkowski claims Blau wrote and published a letter based on a conversation with a nurse at Santa Monica Hospital, where he previously worked.

In the letter; Blau wrote: "She has related to me numerous incidents there in which Mr. Bradkowski tried to alienate employee groups from one another on the basis of race or job title. I would not like to see this occur at Marin General."

The lawsuit claims the letter is libelous and exposes Bradkowski to hatred and ridicule, and suggests he is a bigot and manipulative.

Bradkowski refused to comment on the lawsuit yesterday because it is in litigation, and Bianchi said it is a private matter between his client and Blau.

A 19-year employee of Marin General, Blau called the lawsuit "another instance of harassment of nurses."

"There was no malicious intent and no libelous intent," Blau said. "I thought I was supporting the registered nurses at Marin General."

Blau said she has been outspoken in her concerns about quality of care at Marin General and takes the libel suit as an attack.

"I feel this is a slap suit to shut me up," Blau said.

She said that as an officer of the hospital professional performance committee, she wrote the letter to the union that represents licensed vocational nurses to voice the support of Marin General RNs.

Bradkowski hired a San Francisco attorney to demand a retraction from Blau, but none was received.

Greenbrae attorney Peter Brekbus, who is representing Blau, said the lawsuit appears to be bullying tactics on the part of Bradkowski, Marin General and its affiliate, Sutter Health of Sacramento.

Jim Loveland, a spokesman for Marin General, said the hospital has nothing to do with the matter and it is between Blab and Bradkowski.

"Of course, they would like to play this as an independent matter," Breichus said "I think it is a very questionable lawsuit and Bradkowski should he ashamed of himself."

Bianchi is representing the hospital in a lawsuit filed by the Marin Healthcare District to void the 30-year lease of the facility to the corporation that runs it.