Craven County Hospital Corp. v. Lenoir County

MARTIN, Judge.

In this appeal we are called upon to determine whether, under the factual circumstances which follow, any of the defendants are obligated to pay the cost of hospital care rendered to an indigent who was injured while in police custody. Finding no express or implied contractual obligation to pay for such expenses, nor any constitutional or statutory provision imposing such a duty, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

There are no facts in dispute. Fred Baker was an habitual inebriate who was frequently confined at the Lenoir County jail for offenses relating to public…