for wrongful dismissal and ZBM for libel.

His solicitors are demanding a public apology and a substantial sum from Bermuda Broadcasting Company after they claimed hospital sources had said Mr.

Crane had been sacked for misconduct.

He is also seeking damages from the BHB who he said had told him they were unhappy with his ability to manage projects and that they often came in over budget.

But a letter from Mr. Crane's solicitor Juliana Jack to the hospital's two top officials, leaked to The Royal Gazette , stated Mr. Crane had never been warned by the Board about their unhappiness.

On Tuesday, the BHB agreed that Mr. Crane had never been under investigation, but that it had accepted his resignation the previous Wednesday.

Mr. Crane said he was told by acting Chief Executive Officers Lucille Parker and Joan Dillas-Wright that he had to resign from his post as director of Facilities Management or he would be sacked.

However, his solicitor's letter said: "Prior to being fired, our client had never received any formal or other warnings or complaints about the Board's alleged disappointment with his alleged inability to manage projects.

"He had no idea whatsoever that the termination of his contract was even being contemplated. All of his appraisals have been positive to date.

"We have advised our client that your actions amounted to constructive and wrongful dismissal since, clearly, there was no gross misconduct on our client's part such as to justify summary dismissal.'' Ms Jack's firm Mello, Hollis, Jones & Martin will sue for damages and costs unless Mr. Crane is paid six months' salary in lieu of notice as well as his accrued holiday pay of 11 weeks.

The hospital has also been told to keep up with Mr. Crane's pension contributions.

Ms Jack told The Royal Gazette that she had yet to hear from the hospital over whether they would pay up or contest the action.

Wrongful dismissal suit filed She said: "We are also demanding a full and unequivocal public retraction as the top story on ZBM news as well as substantial costs after they injured our client's excellent reputation.'' Both ZBM and the hospital failed to return calls when contacted by The Royal Gazette .

The leaked solicitor's letter points out that Mr. Crane had more than 30 years experience in facilities management, 20 of those in hospitals.

Prior to being headhunted by King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in 1995 he had been assistant vice president of Canada's largest hospital in Toronto for eight years.

The letter continued: "During the period he has worked at KEMH he has had one sick day. His accomplishments have been vast.'' Among the achievements listed were installing a new central utilities plant for on-site oxygen production, a much improved central cooling system, central heating, a water treatment system and a fire prevention system.

The letter also listed a new surgical wing, a new hyperbaric chamber, modernised elevators, a fire alarm upgrade, new clinical units at St.

Brendan's Hospital, an upgraded Medical Engineering Department and the establishment of internal security services department as projects Mr. Crane successfully completed.

Ms Jack's letter added: "We have been provided with many congratulatory letters complimenting our client on these and other projects which he accomplished while employed at KEMH.

"He taught professional courses in several institutions, including the Canadian School of Management where he sat on the faculty and where he served as Director of Health Services Administration and from which he received a Meritorious Service award in 1997.

"He is also a member of a string of professional engineering bodies and had served as President of the Canadian Hospital Engineering Society.''