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Health Care, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech

Aug. 12, 2026

Kaiser membership raises recusal issue for judge in $100M dispute

Attorneys for Sutter Bay Hospitals asked an Alameda County judge to consider recusal over a potential conflict of interest after she disclosed she is a Kaiser member while presiding over a lawsuit against the company.

Kaiser membership raises recusal issue for judge in $100M dispute
Judge Victoria Kolakowski

An attorney for Sutter Bay Hospitals urged an Alameda County judge during a closed hearing to reconsider her refusal to recuse herself from a more than $100 million dispute with Kaiser, citing the judge's membership with the health care and insurance provider.

Judge Victoria Kolakowski is presiding over Sutter Bay Hospitals' lawsuit against Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, which alleges Sutter was underpaid for emergency and post-stabilization care provided to Kaiser members...

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