On April 21, Judge Roy Dalton Jr. dismissed a class-action antitrust lawsuit that was filed against Health First two days earlier. The complaint accused Health First of monopolizing Florida’s acute care market in violation of state and federal antitrust laws. The judge dismissed the case as an impermissible shotgun pleading in which each count adopts the allegations of all preceding counts.
“Such pleadings impose on the court the onerous task of sifting out irrelevancies to determine which facts are relevant to which causes of action,” the judge wrote in the April 21 order. “If plaintiffs choose to replead, the amended complaint must clearly delineate which factual allegations are relevant to each claim.”
On April 22, Mr. Dalton dismissed a False Claims Act lawsuit filed by a Florida-based physician group against Health First. The judge dismissed the case after finding that the physician group violated a written stipulation to not file a third amended complaint in the case.
Health First said it appreciates the judge’s dismissal of the “unfounded and frivolous lawsuits.”
“These lawsuits divert millions of dollars to defend which should be used for our community,” Health First Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Nicholas Romanello said in a statement to Becker’s Hospital Review. “Health First remains focused on our mission of improving the wellness and health of Brevard families.”
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
North Carolina health system sues insurer over $1.5B policy payout
Florida health system to fire nurse charged with threatening to kill US vice president
Patient recruiter gets 10-year prison sentence for telemedicine fraud
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
