Telehealth

Sutter Health Antitrust Case Heads To Appeal

The long-running federal antitrust lawsuit against Sutter Health is getting a second wind after attorneys filed a notice of appeal Tuesday seeking to revive the case.

The lawsuit appeared doomed in March when a San Francisco jury unanimously sided with the California health system at the conclusion of a monthlong trial. The verdict cleared Sutter of allegations that it engaged in anticompetitive business practices that drove up health care costs in Northern California by more than $400 million.

Matthew Cantor, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case, Sidibe v. Sutter Health, said the trial outcome would have been different had the judge given the jury accurate instructions and not prevented his team from presenting key evidence.

“We believe at the end of the day that we will continue to prosecute this case to the fullest on behalf of the 3 million employers and individuals who paid premiums that were overcharged as a result of Sutter’s conduct,” he said.

The plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal on Tuesday afternoon. Sutter did not immediately comment on the appeal.

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