Dr. Mary Talley Bowden is seeking sanctions against attorneys representing Houston Methodist Hospital after the health system allegedly reneged on a settlement.
Bowden, a vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, said in a statement to The Dallas Express that Houston Methodist “agreed to a settlement, deposited my check for $166,514.28, then at the last minute, backed out, refusing to sign our agreement and demanding an additional $26,000. They’ve exhibited a concerning pattern of playing dirty, and we’re seeking legal sanctions against them and their attorneys for unethical behavior.”
Bowden’s attorneys have reportedly filed a motion for sanctions against the hospital and its legal representatives, Paul Yetter, Tracy Leroy, and Douglas Griffith of the firm Yetter Coleman LLP.
The hearing is scheduled for February 4 at 10:30 a.m. in Houston.
Full story:https://t.co/1kisxYQQTX
— Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MaryBowdenMD) December 26, 2025
The dispute traces back to a years-long legal battle that began in 2021, when Houston Methodist suspended Bowden’s hospital privileges and publicly accused her of spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
Bowden subsequently sued for defamation but lost in court and was ordered to pay over $166,000 in attorney fees.
In early 2025, Bowden reached a settlement with the hospital and sent a check to resolve the matter. According to court filings, the hospital accepted the payment but later attempted to collect an additional $26,000 in interest and fees, prompting Bowden’s legal team to accuse Methodist of a “bait and switch.”
Previously, Bowden sought $30,000 in sanctions, $10,000 each from Houston Methodist, CEO Marc Boom, and Yetter Coleman, along with attorney fees and court costs, The Dallas Express reported in June. Her attorneys argued that the hospital improperly withdrew from a settlement agreement after cashing her check, despite earlier assurances that the payment would conclude the dispute.
A spokeswoman for Houston Methodist previously defended the hospital’s actions, stating, “Dr. Bowden had her day in court, and the court ruled in Houston Methodist’s favor. As part of that ruling, Dr. Bowden was required to pay our attorney fees, which she appealed and subsequently lost. This latest filing is simply an attempt to compel Dr. Bowden to do what is right and pay the entirety of the debt.”
The case has drawn public attention due to Bowden’s criticism of vaccine mandates and her legal challenges against major medical institutions.
Bowden has faced both victories and defeats in her several COVID-era legal battles.
In the spring of 2024, the FDA agreed to remove social media posts it had made that implied ivermectin was not appropriate for human use, after Bowden sued the agency in federal court, DX reported at the time.
However, the Houston ENT also lost a recent dispute with the Texas Medical Board over her thwarted attempt to treat a hospitalized, COVID-infected sheriff’s deputy with ivermectin at the request of the man’s now-widow. Bowden has vowed to appeal the case to the Texas state court, DX reported in December.
DX reached out to Yetter, Leroy, and Griffith via email for comment, but did not receive a response.
