VSP Loses Bid to Toss Antitrust Claims in Optometry Markets Suit

Vision Service Plan must face claims in an antitrust suit accusing the vision insurer of using its power to monopolize the optometry market in California.

Judge Cormac Carney of the US District Court for the Central District of California on Tuesday denied a substantial portion of VSP’s motion to dismiss the case. Plaintiff Total Vision LLC sufficiently alleged that VSP used its monopoly power in the vision insurance market to strengthen its position in the markets in which Total Vision directly competes, Carney said in the court order.

Total Vision operates independent optometry practices in California.

“Here, although Total Vision ...