Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services has filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente and the Service Employees International Union, alleging that they engaged in a conspiracy to push Prime out of the marketplace, according to a Contra Costa Times report.
The suit claims Kaiser and SEIU violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. SEIU allegedly helped Kaiser in its efforts to slash Prime’s market power in exchange for wage concessions. The suit alleges that SEIU provided false stories to the media about problems at Prime facilities, including high rates of septicemia.
The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief.
Kaiser and SEIU have issued statements denying the allegations, according to the report. Kaiser called the suit “deeply puzzling” and SEIU said it is frivolous, according to the report. Both parties maintain that Prime has “misdeeds” of its own.
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