Sutter Health Wins $17.3-Million Ruling

Unite Here, a New York-based union representing 450,000 textile, hotel and restaurant workers, must pay $17.3 million for mailing postcards defaming Sutter Health hospitals, a California judge ruled.

A Placer County judge ordered Unite Here to pay the damages to Sutter, a network of nonprofit hospitals in Northern California, for claiming that Sutter affiliates used linens improperly cleaned by contracted laundry services, Sutter said.

Unite Here spokeswoman Amanda Cooper said the union would appeal the decision.

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