Retired Circuit Court Administrative Judge David D. King has been selected to serve as the Independent Board Governance Consultant as part of the New Hampshire Department of Justice Charitable Trusts Unit’s review of North Country Healthcare, Inc.
The Charitable Trusts Unit found that North Country Healthcare’s governing board and management breached their fiduciary duties as they failed to follow the appropriate bylaw process for terminating the employment of former WMC Affiliate President and in failing to recruit and appoint a full-time, permanent replacement WMC Affiliate President. CTU did not find legal violations as to the other issues reviewed.
North Country Healthcare agreed to abide by a series of CTU imposed requirements including the appointment of an Independent Board Governance Consultant.
Judge King grew up in Colebrook, and continues to have family in the community. From 1984 through 2007, he managed the law firm of Waystack & King in Colebrook, and, from 1990 through 2007, he served as the presiding judge of the Coos County Probate Court.
Judge King has also served on several nonprofit boards in the North Country, including service as an officer on Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital’s board for 20 years.
Attorney General John Formella announced the appointment Tuesday.
“Judge King is uniquely qualified for this role and to work with NCH and its affiliate hospitals to strengthen their adherence to their governing agreements, bolster their oversight of management, and improve their communications with the North Country communities they serve,” said Formella. “I am grateful Judge King is willing to serve in this consulting role, and I know that his commitment to the North Country, combined with his judicial background and board leadership experience, will give NCH and its affiliate boards and management the necessary tools to remedy the deficiencies set forth in CTU’s report and rebuild community trust.”
Some of the issues investigated were first raised by North Country people who were upset over the termination of a local doctor, concerns about a potential conflict of interest and executive salaries. See story here: https://indepthnh.org/2025/09/08/north-country-healthcare-patients-workers-scared-by-outsourcing-possible-layoffs/
The nonprofit North Country Healthcare operates Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin and North Country Home Health and Hospice and is the region’s largest employer.
In November 2025, the Charitable Trusts Unit (CTU) told North Country Healthcare (NCH) that it was conducting a review after former patients of Dr. Elizabeth Cooley and others complained publicly to their elected representatives and the media. https://indepthnh.org/2025/11/12/ag-certain-issues-warrant-further-review-of-north-country-healthcare/
In his role as Independent Board Governance Consultant, Judge King will perform all duties set forth in CTU’s Report Regarding North Country Healthcare, Inc.
These duties include ensuring proper training and recruitment of independent directors for NCH’s and its affiliates’ governing boards, periodically attending board meetings and meeting quarterly with the NCH Board Chair, and meeting quarterly Senator David Rochefort, R-Littleton to receive community feedback. Judge King will also provide CTU with quarterly reports, which will be made public, on NCH’s efforts and progress in the areas that were the subject of CTU’s review.
CTU presented its findings to NCH, and NCH agreed to abide by a series of CTU imposed requirements including the appointment of an Independent Board Governance Consultant to be chosen by the New Hampshire Department of Justice (DOJ). The Independent Consultant will oversee, among other duties, NCH’s recruitment of new Weeks Medical Center (WMC) board members, public listening sessions over the next year to be held quarterly by NCH, and NCH’s recruitment of a WMC Affiliate President. The Independent Consultant will provide DOJ with quarterly reports that will be posted on DOJ’s website.