Partners HealthCare Abandons Plan to Acquire Hospital

Partners HealthCare has abandoned its plan to merge with South Shore Hospital.

Partners filed a notice in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday saying it won't proceed with the acquisition.

The filing comes just weeks after a Suffolk Superior Court judge rejected an agreement that Partners worked out with former Attorney General Martha Coakley to allow the merger.

Coakley's successor, Attorney General Maura Healey, had said she would try to block any future merger after the court rejected the deal.

As part of Tuesday's filing, Healey has agreed to further evaluate Partner's proposed acquisition of Hallmark Health Systems - which owns Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital - if that deal moves forward.

Healey said the decision by Partners was the right call for the company and the state.