North Ottawa Community Hospital v. Kieft

Defendant Barbara Kieft, whose deceased husband David received medical services from plaintiff North Ottawa Community Hospital, appeals the circuit court’s grant of summary disposition for plaintiff in its collection action against her. She defends this action on the basis of a provision of the married women’s property act (mwpa), 1 which the Court of Appeals found to be unconstitutional.

For the reasons that follow, we find that the mwpa is constitutional and that it bars a judgment against Ms. Kieft for her husband’s medical expenses. Consistent with our findings today, we abrogate the…