Boone County judge issues temporary restraining order in PulsePoint dispute

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge has temporarily blocked Boone Health and CHAS Physician Services from interfering with PulsePoint Cardiovascular's ability to operate its private cardiology practice.

The judge issued the temporary restraining order Wednesday after a request from PulsePoint, PulsePoint Missouri MSO, Dr. Martin Tibuakuu and Dr. James Fairlamb.

The order stems from a larger legal dispute over noncompete agreements involving Boone Health and physicians who previously provided cardiology services for the health system.

According to court documents, Missouri Cardiovascular Specialists LLP, also known as Missouri Heart Center or MO Heart, provided cardiology services to Boone Health for more than a decade. The parties entered into a renewed agreement in 2021 that included noncompete and confidentiality provisions.

Boone Health alleged the cardiology group violated those agreements by preparing to launch a competing practice in the Columbia area after the agreement ended May 6, 2026, according to court documents.

Boone Health filed to dismiss its lawsuit against Missouri Heart Center without prejudice on July 21.

Tibuakuu and Fairlamb now operate PulsePoint, which provides general cardiology services.

PulsePoint alleges Boone Health and CHAS Physician Services violated the agreement by trying to prevent or interfere with its operation.

The judge found PulsePoint demonstrated an immediate and irreparable risk of harm and that its application met the requirements for a temporary restraining order.

The order prohibits Boone Health and CHAS Physician Services from conduct that interferes with, restricts, prevents or limits PulsePoint’s ability to operate.

 "We are aware of the temporary restraining order and intend to defend against the unlawful restrictions on Boone Health’s ability to operate and care for patients." Boone Health spokesman Christian Basi told ABC 17 in an email. "We are committed to caring for every patient, and Boone Health is not changing its operations in any way."

The temporary restraining order took effect immediately and remains in place until a preliminary hearing scheduled at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22, where the court is expected to consider whether the restrictions should continue while the case moves forward.

Check back for updates.