Lawsuit Over Ownership of New Hampshire Hospital Moves to Trial

A Superior Court judge ruled not to dismiss a suit between the Portsmouth, N.H.-based Foundation for Seacoast Health and Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA over the ownership of Portsmouth Regional Hospital, and the case will now go to trial in September, according to a report in the Portsmouth Herald.

The legal battle over Portsmouth Regional's future ownership stems from a 2006 leveraged buyout of HCA. In 2008, the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a decision that the 2006 change in HCA's ownership did not activate a contract that would allow the Foundation the opportunity to buy back the hospital, which it sold in 1983, from HCA, according to the report. The Foundation claims the transfer of corporate ownership should have resulted in a right of first refusal offer, which was not ruled on by the Supreme Court.

Officials from the Foundation said it will buy back the hospital if it wins the case. HCA said it was disappointed in the court's decision and will be prepared for court in September.

Read the Herald's report about the ownership battle over Portsmouth Regional Hospital.