Heart Care Centers of Illinois has a pending lawsuit against its former place of business, Morris Hospital, and its former competitors Heartland Cardiovascular Center.

Heart Care Centers cardiovascular group is closing its Morris office and has taken a leave of absence from working on the medical staff of Morris Hospital. The group's last day working at the hospital was Wednesday.

HCCI and one of its doctors, Dr. Christopher Bane, have filed a complaint of defamation, interference and unfair competition against Heartland, Dr. Ari De la Hera of Heartland and president of the medical staff at the hospital; Dr. David Vermillion, chairman of the Department of Medicine; and most recently added, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers. 

An update to the case was filed Wednesday. A motion was granted to amend the complaint to add Morris Hospital.

The most recent filing alleges all the parties are responsible for trying to drive HCCI out of the hospital.

"Through smears, innuendo and defamatory attacks on the professional abilities and integrity of HCCI and its cardiologists ...," according to the file.

The case contains four counts against the parties and asks for a jury trial. Count 1 "defamation" asks the court to award the plaintiffs "their presumed actual damages and damages to be proved at trial in an amount in excess of $1 million; awarding plaintiffs punitive damages in the amount of $1 million and awarding such other relief as the court deems equitable and just."

The second count alleges the parties harassed HCCI "regularly reviewing HCCI patient records without authority and in violation of HIPAA," along with communicating "falsehoods" throughout the hospital. For this count, they ask the court for the same damages, but to HCCI specifically.

The third count is for violating the deceptive trade practices act and demands an injunction prohibiting further commission of the acts and the awarding of fees and costs for HCCI, plus other relief the court "deems equitable and just."

The last count alleges consumer fraud and deceptive business practice and asks the court for actual damages of $1 million, punitive damages of $1 million, fees and costs and other relief the court decides.

A response from the defendants to the most recent filing was not filed Thursday afternoon.