---
title: "Steward Health Care: the separate U.S. civil proceedings"
language: en
canonical: https://dossiertwist.com/dossiers/steward-health-care/us-civil-proceedings/
as_of: 2026-10-14
keywords: ["Steward Health Care","Cerberus","Medical Properties Trust","Ralph de la Torre","hospital bankruptcy","hospital transactions","CareMax","TRACO","Malta"]
---

# Steward Health Care: the separate U.S. civil proceedings

**Question.** Which disputes produced settlements or verdicts, and which outcomes are not established?

**Answer.** The record includes a settled False Claims Act case, a distinct Stark Law complaint, a Compass verdict, malpractice litigation and regulatory inquiries. Their different parties and procedural states prevent a single verdict about the group.

## Distinct claims, verdicts and unresolved outcomes

- Analysis: The retained U.S. matters have different outcomes. A 2018 False Claims Act case settled in May 2022, with a later fee order and termination in October 2023. The December 2023 federal Stark Law complaint against System, Steward Medical Group and St. Elizabeth’s is separate. Compass originally alleged contract breaches against Steward Medical Group, but reporting on the 2022 trial describes a verdict in Steward’s favor and approximately $16.4 million owed by Compass. [s-d8] [s-d109] [s-d111] [s-d132] [s-d147] [s-d188] [s-d189] [s-d206] [s-d207] [s-d228] [s-d233] [s-d255] [s-d262] [s-d263] [s-d291]
  - Qualification: A complaint, a default, a merits verdict and an appeal are different procedural states. The 2019 Vega decision reversed a pretrial dismissal on constitutional grounds and remanded for a merits determination; it did not itself establish malpractice. A request by senators for an SEC investigation into MPT is not proof that the SEC opened one or made findings.
  - Response: Steward disputed the reported Utah malpractice claim before withdrawing from participation, and disputed a Port Arthur doctor’s account of a facility closure. MPT rejected allegations about its financing arrangements. The archive includes supplier and investor allegations without final outcomes for every case.
  - Outcome: Reporting in August 2025 describes a $951 million Utah malpractice award, with collection and any appeal outcome unresolved in the retained account. The 2023 Stark complaint’s final outcome, CHIA appeal and Arizona attorney general’s May 2024 investigation are not resolved by the retained evidence.

## Sources

- [s-d8] Company statement concerning Steward or the identified proceeding, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission <https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1287865/000156459021032186/mpw-ex991_87.htm>
- [s-d109] Regulatory record concerning Steward or the identified proceeding, HHS Office of Inspector General <https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/enforcement/united-states-files-complaint-against-st-elizabeths-medical-center-steward-medical-group-and-steward-health-care-system/>
- [s-d111] Court record source · s-d111
- [s-d132] Regulatory record concerning Steward or the identified proceeding, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren <https://warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letters_to_doj_and_sec_restewardandmpt.pdf>
- [s-d147] Other source · s-d147
- [s-d188] Media source · s-d188
- [s-d189] Company statement source · s-d189
- [s-d206] Media source · s-d206
- [s-d207] Media source · s-d207
- [s-d228] Company statement source · s-d228
- [s-d233] Media source · s-d233
- [s-d255] Court record source · s-d255
- [s-d262] Media source · s-d262
- [s-d263] Media source · s-d263
- [s-d291] Regulatory record concerning Steward or the identified proceeding, Arizona Attorney General <https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-announces-investigation-steward-health-cares-bankruptcy#timeout_seconds=120>