MARTINSBURG - A Berkeley County woman has filed a suit against a local hospital, claiming the hospital violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit Act.
Kristie Wilkins filed the suit Feb. 1 in Berkeley Circuit Court against City Hospital. Wilkins was a patient in the hospital from Nov. 30, 2005, to Dec. 3, 2005. She was hit by a drunken driver and sustained multiple injuries.
On Jan. 4, 2006, Wilkins' counsel issued a letter to the defendant, requesting all billing statements and other communication be forwarded to her health insurance. However, the suit claims the hospital continued to contact Wilkins, despite repeated attempts by her counsel to stop the contacts.
The suit claims the hospital violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act by repeatedly attempting to collect a debt despite written communications that told the hospital to contact Wilkins insurance.
Wilkins also claims she suffered emotional distress because of the repeated attempts to collect debt by contacting her. She seeks $4,087 for every violation of the law, totaling $118,529.38.
Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-91
Berkeley woman sues hospital over collection practices
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