SPRINGFIELD - A lawsuit that challenged the former Illinois governor's unilateral expansion of state-subsidized health care ended Monday when Gov. Pat Quinn gave up his predecessor's fight.

Court documents indicate Blagojevich's successor, Quinn, settled the lawsuit, and the Illinois Supreme Court dismissed it.

The lawsuit was filed by a lawyer and two prominent businessmen in December 2007, after Rod Blagojevich's "FamilyCare" plan began, even though the Legislature had repeatedly rejected it.

The settlement follows a compromise lawmakers and Quinn agreed to months ago that allows the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide subsidized health coverage to an expanded number of participants, but not as many as Blagojevich.

Blagojevich - impeached and removed from office in January amid corruption charges - attempted to create universal health coverage in 2007 with a massive business tax.

Blagojevich's plan failed, so he tried to get permission to provide health care on a sliding scale for wealthier people - up to $83,000 a year for a family of four. When lawmakers rebuffed him, he started FamilyCare anyway.

The lawsuit followed and a Cook County judge stopped the program in April 2008, ruling that Blagojevich had exceeded his power.

In November, the Supreme Court stepped in to review, but Quinn took office and ended the administration's defense of the program.

The law Quinn signed in April allows coverage for people at or below 185 percent of the level. Officials could not immediately say whether those above that level whom the Blagojevich administration signed up would continue to be covered.