A New Jersey Superior Court judge says a law that allowed Cooper University Hospital to take over emergency medical services in Camden is unconstitutional.
The judge on Tuesday ordered Gov. Chris Christie's administration not to implement the law.
The legislation was signed over the summer and gave Cooper University Hospital the opportunity to take over life-support services from rival Virtua Health System. The chairman of Cooper's board is George Norcross, a Democratic Party powerbroker with deep influence in the Statehouse.
Virtua sued the state after the bill was passed and its chief executive, Richard Miller, says the company looks forward to operating in Camden.
Cooper says it expects an appeal court to review the decision and support the legislation.
