Trial Ordered in Florida Hospitals, Ratings Watchdog Suit (2)

Five Palm Beach, Fla., hospitals will have to go to trial on their unfair and deceptive trade practices suit against a firm that issued them negative safety grades, after a federal judge denied both parties’ motions to end the suit early.

Material and consequential factual disputes prevented summary judgment for either party in a case alleging the defendant—nonprofit watchdog The Leapfrog Group—purposefully downgraded the hospitals’ ratings because they wouldn’t participate in a survey designed to determine the quality of their care, Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks said Wednesday for the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The parties’ ...