The Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Repository claims Sacramento-based Sutter Health and its California Pacific Medical Center facility live in an "alternate universe."
The criticism comes amid a $250 million lawsuit the liver depository has made against the two claiming both Sutter Health and CPMC have failed to live up to promises they made to support the laboratory, financially and otherwise.
"Plaintiffs' allegations, though inaccurate in many respects, show a deep commitment to the biorepository," Sutter Health said in a statement. "CPMC shares that deep commitment, and to that end, has invested millions of dollars in the repository's mission and operations, contrary to the allegations in the Plaintiffs' complaint."
Lawyers representing the liver repository said the organization would be willing to sit down with Sutter Health and CPMC to move its repository to another institution, namely the University of California San Francisco.
For now, the two sides appear wide apart on the issues.
"Sutter Health and CPMC apparently live in an alternate universe," said Pierce O'Donnell, attorney for the plaintiffs. "Years ago, they abandoned and embarked on an insidious campaign to destroy this world-renowned liver repository that has saved countless lives and advanced vital liver treatment around the world."
The lawsuit claims Sutter Health broke many of its promises, including allowing employee numbers to dwindle and breaching an agreement in 2022 to allow the repository to relocate to UCSF.
"CPMC looks forward to ensuring that the biorepository continues to receive the highest quality stewardship, whether at CPMC or another deserving institution," Sutter Health added.