Big Summary Judgment Win For Hospital Defending $300M Exclusive Dealing Antitrust Suit

After fending off a motion for judgment on the pleadings in March 2015, a small hospital in Peoria, Illinois lost on summary judgment in its $300 million antitrust suit alleging illegal exclusive dealing and attempted monopolization against its largest competitor. On Friday, a federal district court ruled that the exclusive arrangements between defendant hospital and health insurers did not prevent plaintiff hospital from competing in the market. Methodist Health Svcs. Corp. v. OFS Healthcare System, d/b/a Saint Francis Med. Ctr., No. 1:13-cv-01054 (C.D. Ill. Sept. 30, 2016). This decision has the potential to become a significant precedent regarding the use of exclusive contracts, particularly when employed by parties with alleged market power.