IN-Happy 18th- sued for childhood medical bills

[Medstudies]

13 Investigates: Surprising law lets lawyer sue people for childhood medical bills

Welcome to adulthood and Indiana’s “Fair Debt Collection” law kids! This loophole that allows debt collectors to sue you for unpaid childhood medical bills. Those bills you did not legally consent to.

From the article this appears to be one specific individual targeting this loophole.


“Attorney DJ first tried to sue the woman for the childhood debt and garnish her wages when she was 20 years old. She said she was unaware of the lawsuit and never received a notice. Court records sent to Johnson show she did not have a job at that time, so Johnson couldn't collect a dime.

Now 14 years later, Johnson has dragged her back into court for a bill she doesn't even remember.”

 

[LadyL]

who is he suing on behalf of?
he must be suing on behalf of one of the parents correct?
so why doesn't that parent sue the other parent?

 

[Medstudies]

who is he suing on behalf of?
he must be suing on behalf of one of the parents correct?
so why doesn't that parent sue the other parent?

This story is so ridiculous. WTHR has updated with further information. And it confirms this is an old debt that was bought from Wishard Hospital (an aside: The hospital no longer exists- it is now Eskenazi)


Anyway, new some snippets to the initial story:
“According to Hockman, Johnson cited a 1975 Supreme Court ruling involving the Scott County School District. That case involved a medical bill that was never paid by an injured student nor his parents for an emergency hospital visit from school.

The court ruled that "since the child received the service and it was a necessary, he is liable."

And:
“Records show the collection activity for the childhood debt focused on Toliver.

So why weren't her parent's held responsible?

Toliver believes they never received a bill, possibly due to a bankruptcy, leaving Derek Johnson and Medshield to collect from her.”

A surprising law allows you to be sued for childhood medical debt