In re: Da Vinci Surgical Robot Antitrust Litigation
| Case number | 3:21-cv-03825-AMO |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
| Judge | Hon. Araceli Martínez-Olguín |
| Settlement amount | $450 million, plus mutually agreed injunctive relief |
| Defendant | Intuitive Surgical, Inc. |
| Alleged class | U.S. hospitals that purchased da Vinci surgical robots, EndoWrist instruments, or related repair services |
| Status | Settlement reached; awaiting court approval |
Intuitive Surgical has agreed to pay $450 million to resolve a long-running hospital class action accusing the company of illegally monopolizing the market for servicing its da Vinci surgical robots. The company disclosed the settlement on October 20, 2026 as part of its third-quarter earnings report, and it still requires approval from a federal judge in California.
Key takeaways
- Intuitive Surgical will pay $450 million to settle hospital antitrust claims over repair of its da Vinci surgical robots and EndoWrist instruments.
- The deal includes a one-time payment and injunctive relief, the terms of which have not been made public, with no admission of wrongdoing.
- The settlement follows a 2024 court ruling that found Intuitive holds monopoly power in the market for EndoWrist instrument repair and replacement.
- Independent repair companies are not part of this class and continue to pursue their own, separate antitrust claims against Intuitive.
What the lawsuit claimed
Hospitals that purchased Intuitive’s da Vinci surgical robots alleged the company tied sales of the robots to its own repair and maintenance services, and restricted hospitals from servicing the machines themselves or hiring independent repair companies that could offer lower-cost alternatives. The case, consolidated in the Northern District of California as In re: Da Vinci Surgical Robot Antitrust Litigation, combined several hospital lawsuits first filed starting in 2021.
In March 2024, the court granted the hospital plaintiffs partial summary judgment, ruling that the da Vinci robot and its EndoWrist instruments constitute separate antitrust product markets, and that Intuitive holds monopoly power over the aftermarket for repairing and replacing EndoWrist instruments. That ruling significantly narrowed Intuitive’s defenses heading toward a trial that had been scheduled before the settlement was reached.
Terms of the $450 million settlement
Under the agreement, reached after mediation, Intuitive will make a one-time $450 million payment and has agreed to unspecified injunctive relief without admitting liability or wrongdoing. The company recorded the $450 million as a pre-tax charge in its third-quarter 2026 financial results. The settlement still needs preliminary and final approval from the court, and individual class members could still object before it is finalized.
The certified class is limited to hospitals that made qualifying purchases in the United States; independent repair companies are not included and are pursuing separate litigation against Intuitive over similar allegations.
What affected hospitals can do now
Hospitals that purchased da Vinci robots, EndoWrist instruments, or related Intuitive service contracts should watch for official notice of the settlement once the court grants preliminary approval, which will explain how to participate or object. For more on how antitrust class actions like this one typically resolve, see our guide on what is a class action lawsuit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Intuitive Surgical antitrust lawsuit about?
Hospitals accused Intuitive Surgical of monopolizing the market for servicing and repairing its da Vinci surgical robots and EndoWrist instruments, preventing them from using cheaper independent repair options.
How much will Intuitive Surgical pay in the settlement?
Intuitive agreed to pay $450 million, along with injunctive relief whose specific terms have not been made public, to settle the hospital class action.
Has the settlement been finalized?
No. The settlement was disclosed in October 2026 and still requires preliminary and final approval from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Are independent repair companies included in this settlement?
No. Independent repair companies are not part of the certified hospital class and have filed their own separate antitrust lawsuits against Intuitive Surgical.
