DaVita and its former CEO acquitted of U.S. antitrust charges
(Reuters) -A jury in Denver, Colorado, acquitted dialysis supplier DaVita and its former CEO Kent Thiry on Friday of costs that they conspired with rivals to not rent one another’s workers.
The Justice Division had alleged within the case that each DaVita and Surgical Care Associates LLC required senior-level workers who sought to work for them to inform their present employers that they have been job-hunting.
“The jury affirmed that this case ought to by no means have been introduced,” Thiry mentioned in a press release. “I need to thank the group that offered a lot assist by way of this troublesome time.”
In a press release, DaVita mentioned: “(We) are grateful to place this matter behind us. We stay dedicated to working with integrity and upholding the best requirements of regulation.”
Whereas enforcers have historically centered on costs and innovation in imposing antitrust regulation, the Biden administration has shifted its emphasis considerably to place extra deal with unlawful agreements which may push down wages.
Friday’s choice comes after DaVita and Thiry had an alleged anti-poaching settlement with Surgical Care Associates LLC, now a part of UnitedHealthcare, from 2012 to 2017 that sought to forestall every firm from wooing away senior-level workers, the Justice Division mentioned final yr.
SCA was charged in early 2021. Trial has been set for early subsequent yr.
The division additionally alleged that DaVita struck agreements with two different corporations, Hazel Well being Inc and Radiology Companions, to not rent DaVita workers.
The jury acquitted the corporate and its former CEO on all three counts, a spokeswoman for Thiry mentioned.
Wyn Hornbuckle, a spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Division, mentioned in a press release that he was disenchanted within the final result, however respects the jury’s choice and stays dedicated to imposing the antitrust legal guidelines within the labor markets.
(Reporting by Diane Bartz, Mike Scarcella and Katanga Johnson; Extra reporting by Costas Pitas; Enhancing by Lisa Shumaker and Edmund Klamann)
