The Neena, Wisconsin-based health system announced Friday that ThedaCare has stopped trying to get a court to prevent seven employees from leaving to work for competitors.

The case against Ascension Northeast Wisconsin face an uphill battle After a judge struck down an interim order preventing workers from leaving ThedaCare’s flagship hospital for the same job less than seven miles from Ascension’s Appleton facility in St. Louis. Attorneys for ThedaCare filed a voluntary termination notice in Outagamie County Circuit Court on Friday.

ThedaCare CEO Dr Imran Andrabi Press Releases. “We wish them all the best in their new roles.”

ThedaCare, which operates seven hospitals, argued in the lawsuit that the simultaneous departure of seven members of its 11 interventional radiology and cardiovascular teams would endanger patients. Crew handles serious cases such as trauma and stroke patients. Ascension rejected that argument, noting that employees would provide the same care at a nearby hospital. Ascension also pointed out that ThedaCare refused to make workers bargain to keep them.

ThedaCare continues to stand by its claim that the sole purpose of legal action is to protect patients. “In the most serious, life-threatening situations, we have worked hard to ensure safe, high-quality, continuous access to the high level of services our communities depend on,” Andrabi said.