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."

Lohan's Latest Outburst Could Land Her Behind Bars Again

Former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Robin Sax said that getting to the bottom of the dispute between Lohan and Holland will rest on proving who is the most credible.

Lohan's credibility is severely damaged, Sax said.

"Here you have a drug addict who will go to any desperate measures to be able to use and abuse drugs, you have someone who has lied to court before, you have someone who has gone to complete desperation to stay out of jail. So, in a credibility call, Lindsay is not looking too good," Sax said.

Lohan reported to rehab for the fifth time since 2007 in September after testing positive for cocaine. Earlier this year, she served two prison stints for violating her 2007 DUI probation.

Sax said that Lohan might be using rehab as a way to stay out of jail and not a way to conquer addiction.

"I don't think anyone has been convinced that Lindsay Lohan has admitted that she has a problem....Everyone thinks that she has utilized rehab as a way of avoiding jail and was only hoping for her best and it doesn't seem that we're seeing the best," Sax said.

One of the terms of Lohan's probation is to abide by all laws. If she is charged with battery, she could spend another session behind bars.

"If this allegation and this violation has anything to do with drugs and alcohol and that is being able to be proved. I see him [Judge Elden Fox] putting her in custody," Sax said.

Dina Lohan Enabling Daughter?

Until now, rehab seemed to be doing good for the 24-year-old starlet. According to RadarOnline, last week, she celebrated 100 days of sobriety.

Lohan had received day and evening passes to leave her half-way house.

"These are markers that Betty Ford uses to test how committed they are to the process. She has had permission to shop, but not to drink," Sax said. "Barhopping and drinking are not on the Betty Ford list of approved activities."

Lohan had hoped to be released from rehab Jan. 3, a date that Judge Elden Fox specifically picked to help Lohan avoid the holiday season out of rehab, a difficult time for addicts.

The "Mean Girls" actress is reportedly planning to travel to New York to spend Christmas with her mother, Dina Lohan, at the family's Long Island home. It is unclear if the investigation into the Betty Ford incident will affect that trip.

Sax blamed Lohan's latest outburst in part on Lohan's mother.

"It's consistent with her continued addiction and continued enabling by her mother, unfortunately," Sax said.