Deals
U.S. Opposes Anthem Push for a Quick Trial in Cigna Merger Case
- Justice Department claims $48 billion tie-up hurts competition
- Insurer seeks accelerated court handling of antitrust suit
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Anthem Inc. is pushing for a speedy decision on the government’s bid to block the health insurer’s planned $48 billion merger with rival Cigna Corp. The government doesn’t want that, and on Wednesday its lawyers told a federal judge the case is too complex to rush a ruling.
Justice Department lawyers told U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington that the antitrust case they filed last week is far more complicated than a coal company lawsuit that Anthem attorneys cited on Monday as an example of what could be done.