Idaho County ordered to pay shooter's med bills

GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) - A 2nd District Judge has ordered Idaho County to cover the cost of medical care for a man who was stabbed during a domestic dispute and treated at a Lewiston hospital two years ago.

The Lewiston Tribune reports that Judge Michael Griffin ruled last week that county commissioners couldn't deny Bryan Stark's indigent claim just because he gave different versions of how he was injured on Dec. 21, 2009.

The case arose when Idaho County deputies were called to a home in Elk City to investigate a possible shooting and stabbing, and there they found Stark with an apparent knife wound.

Stark's girlfriend told the deputies the two had been fighting over liquor when Stark shot at her twice, so she stabbed him.

Stark was first taken to Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville, and he told doctors there he sustained his injuries in a fall. Later, when he was transferred to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, he told doctors there he'd fallen onto a piece of farm equipment.

Two days later, Stark - who was unemployed and receiving food stamps - applied for indigent medical assistance from Idaho County to cover his bills. But commissioners denied the claim because Stark lied about how he sustained his injuries.

St. Joseph then sued the county to cover the bills, saying it didn't matter what Stark's version of events was - the county was still responsible for the bill.

In a ruling handed down Wednesday, Griffin agreed with the hospital.

"It could be argued that the taxpayers should not have to pay the medical bills of someone who, while committing a criminal act, is injured when the victim responds in self-defense," Griffin said. "However, these are legislative decisions and not a proper basis for denial by (Idaho County). If Mr. Stark had consistently stated that his injuries were caused when he was stabbed by someone he was unlawfully trying to shoot, then his application (for medical assistance) would have to have been approved."