State Supreme Court to hear UnitedHealth case

St. Paul, Minn. — This week the Minnesota Supreme Court holds a hearing on whether a federal judge in Minneapolis has the authority to reject a settlement reached in a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group.

The suit stemmed from a stock options backdating scandal at UnitedHealth in 2006, in which the company's former chief executive officer Bill McGuire played a central role.

Last December, Minnetonka based UnitedHealth announced a settlement calling for McGuire to give back $400 million in stock options and other pay.

A special litigation committee had brokered the settlement.

But Judge James Rosenbaum pointed out that the committee did not make any factual findings in the case.

The state supreme court Wednesday will consider whether Rosenbaum may himself examine the settlement on its merits and possibly reject it.