Carpenter v. Twin Falls County

BISTLINE, Justice.

Elva Carpenter was hospitalized at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise with a terminal illness on April 21, 1980. Upon her death on May 4, 1980, a total hospital bill of $10,614.09 was rendered by the hospital to her surviving husband, Clarence Carpenter. While Mrs. Carpenter was in the hospital, Mr. Carpenter, using a county-printed form which he obtained from a county secretary, partially completed an “Application for County Assistance.” Carpenter would later testify that on or about May 8, 1980, he personally delivered the application, which was neither signed nor sworn to,…