Peterson

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 RALPH PETERSON, Case No. 3:21-cv-04908-WHO

Plaintiff,

ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS

v. 9 Re: Dkt. Nos. 60, 61 SUTTER MEDICAL FOUNDATION, et al., 11 Defendants.

13 Plaintiff Ralph Peterson is a medical doctor who alleges that various defendants associated 14 with the Sutter network of healthcare facilities unlawfully steer away unprofitable procedures, 15 give kickbacks to physicians who comply, and punish physicians who do not. He contends that 16 the Medical Board of California (“MBC”) facilitates these actives by using its disciplinary 17 authority against physicians, like him, who will not comply. He also asserts that it discriminates 18 against African American doctors like him. He alleges that, from 2009 to 2013, the defendants 19 conspired to punish him through investigations and disciplinary proceedings. And in late 2019, he 20 learned through public reporting that the California Attorney General had sued Sutter and entered 21 into a confidential settlement with it regarding Sutter’s anti-competitive behavior.…