A Nevada jury awarded Saint Mary’s over $510 million against UHS for fraud and harming patient care by poaching staff.

A Nevada jury awarded Saint Mary’s Health Network over $510 million in damages against Universal Health Services (UHS), finding UHS liable for fraud, intentional interference with contracts, and harming patient care by luring physicians and staff from the Reno hospital. The verdict, delivered on September 26, 2025, included $500 million in punitive damages and $4.7 million in compensatory damages, based on evidence that UHS executives plotted during the pandemic to undermine the hospital. UHS expects the punitive award to be reduced under Nevada law and plans to appeal, warning of potential financial impact. The case underscores legal tensions over physician recruitment and corporate conduct in healthcare.