BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Twenty-one victims of the largest hepatitis C outbreak in recent U.S. history have settled their claims against a Minot hospital out of court.
Neither the plaintiffs' attorney nor Trinity Health are releasing terms of the deal. It resolves a protracted legal dispute sparked by the outbreak of the viral infection that began in August 2013 and eventually sickened at least 52 people. It was the nation's largest outbreak in 13 years.
Victims and the nursing home where many of the cases occurred alleged an employee of Trinity's outpatient laboratory service caused the outbreak.
State and federal health officials never pinpointed an exact cause. Trinity has rejected the notion that it's responsible. Attorney Randall Hanson says Trinity decided to settle to avoid litigation costs and to allow people to move on.