DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
C.R. Bard Inc. (BCR) said a District Court in Missouri dismissed
all counts of a class-action lawsuit led by St. Francis Medical
Center that alleged the company conspired to exclude competitors
from the urological catheter market.
The medical center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., was seeking damages
of up to $200 million, a figure C.R. Bard said was "unsupported by
the facts."
The maker of medical devices had faced a class-action complaint
in early 2007 led by Southeast Missouri Hospital along with Tyco
International Inc. The complaint was later amended to add St.
Francis Medical Center and was later renamed when Southeast's
motion to serve as class representative was dismissed. Tyco was
also later removed from the action.
St. Francis further alleged the company sought to maintain
market share by engaging in conduct in violation of state and
federal antitrust laws, C.R. Bard disclosed in its 10-Q Securities
and Exchange Commission filing in July.
St. Francis can appeal the court's decision.
A company spokesman wasn't immediately available for further
comment.
C.R. Bard makes vascular, urology, oncology and surgical
specialty products.
Shares were up 13 cents to $78.88 in recent trading.
-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480;
john.kell@dowjones.com