Betty Ford Staffer Fired in Wake of Lindsay Lohan Incident
Dec. 22, 2010 — -- The rehab worker who allegedly was involved in an altercation with Lindsay Lohan has been fired by the Betty Ford Center for breaking patient confidentiality rules.
Lohan has been receiving treatment at the facility since September.
The fired Betty Ford staffer, Dawn Holland, told TMZ.com that she scolded Lohan for returning past curfew to her half-way house after spending an evening at a local bar.
"She tried to snatch the phone out of my arm. She grabbed my wrist and snatched it down and twisted my arm and hand and swore a few choice words at me," Holland told TMZ.
Police arrived at a Betty Ford Center facility early Dec. 12 in response to an incident involving Lohan, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement to ABCNews.com.
"On Dec. 12, 2010 at 1:03 a.m. officers from the Palm Desert Police Department conducted a battery investigation," the statement said. "The incident involved Lindsay Lohan and another female adult who is a staff member. Lohan was reported as a suspect in the investigation. The victim desired prosecution."
"The incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor not committed in the presence of a peace officer," the statement continued. "Therefore, no one was arrested at the scene. The investigation is currently ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the District Attorney's office to determine if charges will be filed in the case."
Lohan claims Holland was the instigator. Holland denied that to TMZ, saying, "I did not touch the woman. I am not willing to risk my job over any patient."
Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, declined to comment on the specifics of the case "as we await the completion of the police investigation."
"It should be noted, however, that it was Ms. Lohan who called 911 to request police assistance at the time this incident occurred," Holley said in a statement released Tuesday.
Late Tuesday, Lohan's accuser was fired for breaking confidentiality rules and speaking publicly about a patient. Clinic spokesman Russ Patrick said in a statement that the worker was fired for violating patient confidentiality by giving interviews and "disclosing a privileged document."
