Washoe Medical Center, Inc. v. Churchill County

OPINION

On April 13, 1988, John W. Cooper (Cooper) was transferred from Churchill Regional Medical Center in Churchill County to Washoe Medical Center (WMC) in Reno, for treatment of an acute medical condition. On April 14, 1988, WMC sent a notice addressed to Ruby Anderson, the Churchill County Clerk, which stated that Cooper was a patient and requested that Churchill County accept financial responsibility for him. WMC discharged Cooper on April 15, 1988, and his bill totaled $3,981.21. When the Churchill County Welfare Department requested information from Cooper about his financial status,…