Here are three recent noncompete moves that Becker's has reported on since Feb. 20:
1. Two hospitals are alleging North American Partners in Anesthesia's noncompete clauses violate antitrust laws. The suits allege the anesthesia provider uses noncompete clauses to restrict competition and "demand exorbitant payments for critical and understaffed patient services." The suits also allege the clauses "impede the free movement of its providers so that it can capture the value of their scarce services'' by prohibiting their anesthesia providers from being employed directly by the hospitals.
2. In a voluntary agreement with Colorado's attorney general, U.S. Anesthesia Partners will end its contracts with five Colorado hospitals due to its alleged monopoly in the state's Denver and Durango markets. U.S. Anesthesia Partners will also completely end its noncompete agreement practice within 18 months of the agreement taking effect.
3. An Arizona federal court recently ruled in favor of a noncompete agreement, granting a franchisor company's motion to temporarily restrain a former franchisee from operating a competing business in a noncompete lawsuit.