Sutter Health Must Battle Antitrust Claims in Court

Sutter Health can’t force an employers benefit trust to arbitrate antitrust claims arising from a contract between Sutter Health and Blue Shield of California, the trust’s insurer (UFCW & Employers Benefit Tru. v. Sutter Health, Cal. Ct. App., A143399, 10/27/15).

On appeal, the California appellate court, first appellate district, agreed with the trial court that the trust “was not bound to arbitrate its claims pursuant to an agreement it had not signed or even seen.”

The UFCW & Employers Benefit Trust sued Sutter Health alleging that Sutter’s various written and oral contracts with network vendors—such as Blue ...