The lawsuit brought by Dr. Caroline Peterson, a longtime Dayton-area OB-GYN, accuses Kettering Health Network and eight co-defendants of orchestrating a roughly ten-month campaign of unfounded harassment and accusations that damaged her reputation and disrupted her practice. She filed the case on October 2, 2024, in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin on March 30, 2026.1Trellis Law. Caroline Peterson DO v. Kettering Health Network
Who Dr. Peterson Is
Dr. Caroline Peterson, DO, FACOOG, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who has practiced in the greater Dayton area since 1992.2Healthgrades. Dr. Caroline Peterson, DO, FACOOG Her practice was affiliated with several Kettering Health facilities, including Soin Medical Center, Kettering Health Main Campus, and Kettering Health Miamisburg. She saw patients through Alliance Physicians Inc., which operates as part of Kettering Health Medical Group.3CauseIQ. Alliance Physicians Inc
What She Alleges
According to the second amended complaint filed on August 27, 2025, the defendants carried out a “scheme, with no objective, reasonable basis to support it,” that subjected Dr. Peterson to unfounded harassment and accusations of legal violations over about ten months.4Trellis Law. Amended Complaint (Second) Filed by Daniel James Rudary The complaint says hospital administrators and Dr. Peterson’s peers reviewed the allegations and determined they were unfounded. It also says that review was only shared with her after she hired counsel to enforce her contractual and procedural due process rights. She claims significant professional and reputational harm as a result.
Who She Sued
The suit, styled Caroline Peterson, DO v. Kettering Health Network, et al., case number 2024-CV-05162, names nine defendants: Kettering Health Network; Alliance Physicians Inc.; Dayton Osteopathic Hospital, doing business as Kettering Health Washington Township; physicians Michael Caccamo, DO, Kristen Caldwell, DO, Misty Dickerson, DO, and Sharal Mall, DO; and two individuals, Ilah Naudasher and Rita Prichard.1Trellis Law. Caroline Peterson DO v. Kettering Health Network The available court records do not detail the roles of Naudasher and Prichard at Kettering Health. Dr. Dickerson is a fellow OB-GYN who practices at the Washington Township location.5Healthgrades. Dr. Misty Dickerson, DO The case is assigned to Judge E. Gerald Parker, Jr.
Her Departure From Kettering Health
As of August 1, 2025, Dr. Peterson was no longer providing care through Kettering Health Medical Group. A patient letter dated August 5, 2025, informed patients of the change and urged them to transition to another OB-GYN within the Kettering Health system for “uninterrupted care.” The letter did not state a reason for her departure.6Kettering Health. Caroline Peterson DO Patient Letter
WDTN reported that Dr. Peterson had been placed on leave and that patients were told the departure was not her choice.7WDTN. Some Kettering Health OB-GYN Patients Facing Changes, Transitioned to Other Doctors Angela Fisher, a patient of more than 20 years, told the station Dr. Peterson had been instrumental in her survival after an emergency hysterectomy and voiced public support: “I want you to know, your patients are behind you, 100 percent. We look forward to seeing you in a new practice very soon.” Kettering Health declined to comment on specifics, citing its policy of not discussing personnel matters or pending litigation, and a spokesperson acknowledged the difficulty of transitioning patients with time-sensitive needs such as scheduled deliveries.
Where the Case Stands
The defendants have filed multiple motions to dismiss, including a 31-page motion in April 2025 and another in October 2025 aimed at the second amended complaint. In September 2025, the court overruled an earlier motion to dismiss as moot after the second amended complaint was filed. The case has also involved motions to disqualify counsel and requests for protective orders.1Trellis Law. Caroline Peterson DO v. Kettering Health Network
As of the most recent docket update in February 2026, the case remains active and has not been dismissed. A final pretrial hearing is set for March 18, 2026, and the jury trial is scheduled to begin on March 30, 2026.1Trellis Law. Caroline Peterson DO v. Kettering Health Network