The judge tasked to take over lawsuits involving West Penn Allegheny Health System, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Highmark has indicated she wants to add a sense of urgency and get the slow-moving cases resolved, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.
U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti is taking over for U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab, who was removed from the case after West Penn's attorneys accused him of bias.
Judge Conti told attorneys representing West Penn, UPMC, Highmark and Royal Mile — a real-estate firm that sued UPMC and Highmark in 2010 — that the cases are "too old, and nothing is going to get any better," according to the report. She also said, "I don't want to have roadblocks and excessive motions beyond motions and motions."
West Penn sued Highmark and UPMC in 2009, claiming the two colluded to block competition. West Penn dropped Highmark from the suit since the payor is currently in a pending deal to acquire the hospital system, making UPMC the sole defendant.
Royal Mile sued UPMC and Highmark in 2010. Judge Schwab had suspended that case, but Judge Conti has since lifted the stay. UPMC and Highmark now have 30 days to file a response to Royal Mile's claims that businesses were hurt by a conspiracy between the payor and hospital system.
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U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti is taking over for U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab, who was removed from the case after West Penn's attorneys accused him of bias.
Judge Conti told attorneys representing West Penn, UPMC, Highmark and Royal Mile — a real-estate firm that sued UPMC and Highmark in 2010 — that the cases are "too old, and nothing is going to get any better," according to the report. She also said, "I don't want to have roadblocks and excessive motions beyond motions and motions."
West Penn sued Highmark and UPMC in 2009, claiming the two colluded to block competition. West Penn dropped Highmark from the suit since the payor is currently in a pending deal to acquire the hospital system, making UPMC the sole defendant.
Royal Mile sued UPMC and Highmark in 2010. Judge Schwab had suspended that case, but Judge Conti has since lifted the stay. UPMC and Highmark now have 30 days to file a response to Royal Mile's claims that businesses were hurt by a conspiracy between the payor and hospital system.
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