Fondren Orthopedic Ltd vs. Columbia Hospital Corporation

In September 2024, AZA won a $25.6 million breach of contract jury verdict in Harris County court in a case pitting AZA client doctors’ group Fondren Orthopedic Ltd. against healthcare giant HCA Healthcare.

Fondren and HCA (which took over for Columbia Hospital Corporation) were in a limited partnership that owns and operates Texas Orthopedic Hospital, a hospital specializing in orthopedic surgery services.  The jury in the 80th district court found that HCA had broken the non-compete provisions of the contract by opening 10 competing hospitals in the Houston area. In addition, HCA prevented the Fondren group doctors from doing the same by invoking the same non-compete provisions the larger entity was blatantly breaking.

AZA Lawyers:  Joe Ahmad, Paul Turkevich, Kyle Poelker, Hilary Greene, Karina Sanches-Peralta, and Kelsi Stayart White.

Case Type: Litigation Plaintiff