A San Antonio-based spine practice was awarded a $24 million verdict in a noncompete case in October, but a health system and its affiliate plan to appeal it, the San Antonio Express-News reported April 10.
The verdict stems from a 2020 lawsuit involving Neurosurgery and Spine Consultants and Osama Ahmed, MD, who left the practice in 2018 and immediately joined Methodist Physician Practices. However, a noncompete clause in his contract with the practice barred him from working within 10 miles of it for two years.
The practice sued the health system, and a jury awarded the group $8 million for lost profits and $16.2 million in restitution.
Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Physician Practices on April 7 lost their request for a new trial or a reduced judgment, the report said. A jury rendered the verdict in October, and the final judgment was entered in January. The health system and its affiliate are liable for the full sum.
An attorney for the health system told the Express-News that the health system and affiliate did not think they did anything wrong by hiring Dr. Ahmed. Dr. Ahmed since has left Methodist and launched the Brain and Spine Institute of San Antonio.
A spokesperson for Methodist Healthcare did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Becker’s.
