CR Bard: Court Dismisses St Francis Class-Action Suit

   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; [e-mail]