By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On April 9, 2019, 21st Century Oncology filed a motion to dismiss a noncompete antitrust suit that a group of oncologists filed against them in a Florida federal court on March 2019. According to their dismissal motion, the physician plaintiffs are overreaching with their claim that 21st Century used unlawful methods to build a monopoly on radiation therapy. The cancer treatment center called their suit a bid to “dress up” simple employment claims as an antitrust case and added that it “strains law and fact.”
Background of the Noncompete Antitrust Suit.
On March 15, 2019, a group of Florida oncologists hit the cancer treatment center with a seven-count complaint in federal court. In the complaint, 21st Century faced allegations that they forced doctors to sign illegal non-compete agreements and held a monopoly over oncology and radiation services in three counties around Fort Myers, Florida. Additionally, The company also allegedly required doctors to sign “onerous” non-compete agreements that have suppressed competition, the suit alleges. To learn more about the antitrust suit, click here.
Visit our website and view the complaint filed by the oncologists.
21st Century Hits Back.
In its motion to dismiss, 21st Century stated, “the oncologists want out of their contracts, but do not want to abide by the reasonable [and] legitimate non-compete provisions.” The company also said the oncologists’ Sherman Act claims are barred by a four-year statute of limitations, which has already run out because the noncompetes were negotiated more than four years ago. According to the motion, the oncologists have failed to show that they’ve suffered an antitrust injury at all, meaning they have no standing to bring those claims
Additionally, 21st Century added that even if the claims had any merit, they should be dismissed because the oncologists “directed and participated in the very purported misconduct at the base of their claims.”
Click here to view 21st Century’s motion to dismiss.
For more information on restrictive covenants, non-compete agreements and employment contracts, click here to read one of my prior blogs and learn how The Health Law Firm can assist you.
Contact Health Care Attorneys Experienced in Negotiating and Evaluating Physician’s Complex Business Litigation, and Transactions.
At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for all health care providers and professionals. This includes physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, durable medical equipment suppliers (DME), medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider.
The services we provide include reviewing and negotiating contracts, preparing contracts, helping employers and employees enforce contracts, advice on setting aside or voiding contracts, litigation of contracts (in start or federal court), business transactions, professional license defense, opinion letters, representation in investigations, fair hearing defense, representation in peer review and clinical privileges hearings, litigation of restrictive covenant (covenants not to compete), Medicare and Medicaid audits, commercial litigation, and administrative hearings.
To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:
Boysen, Ryan. “21st Century Oncology Blasts Noncompete Antitrust Suit.” Law360. (April 9, 2019). Web.
Gluck, Frank. “21st Century Oncology facing continued legal troubles as it tries to put troubled past behind it.” Fort Myers News Press. (March 29, 2019). Web.
Leonard, Mike. “Cancer Center Fires Back in Radiation Oncology Non-Compete Case.” Bloomberg Law. (April 9, 2019). Web.
Atkins, Dorothy. “Fla. Oncologists Hit Cancer Centers With Antitrust Suit.” Law360. (March 18, 2019). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
KeyWords: Noncompetition agreement litigation, representation for noncompetition agreements, noncompetition agreement litigation attorney, noncompetition agreement attorney, restrictive covenant attorney, representation for restrictive covenants, covenant-not-to-compete representation, health care litigation representation, representation for employer enforcement of restrictive covenants, representation for complex litigation, restrictive covenant defense attorney, complex healthcare litigation attorney, anti-trust legal counsel, physician employment agreements, health professional employment contracts, legal counsel for defeat of noncompetition agreement, physician employment contract litigation, health professional contracting, negotiating health business transactions, health care business contract attorney, health care professional contract litigation, healthcare complex business litigation, representation for physician agreements, representation for physician business transactions, representation for physician complex litigation, representation for antitrust The Health Law Firm reviews, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews
“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.
