University of Utah Hospital Ex Rel. Scarberry v. Board of County Commissioners

BISTLINE, Justice.

This is an appeal from a decision of the district court which affirmed Gem County’s denial of reimbursement for emergency medical care of an indigent. We affirm in part and remand.

On July 10, 1984, Terry Scarberry, an employee on a farm, was moving sprinkler pipe which came into contact with a high voltage electrical line. Scarberry suffered serious injury from bums. One of his legs had to be amputated above the knee. Emergency treatment was received at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. The hospital billed Scarberry for approximately $70,000.

Scarberry was…