Judge staves off Hutcheson hospital foreclosure, citing inadequate public notice

photo The Hutcheson Medical Center building in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
photo Walker County, Ga., Commissioner Bebe Heiskell speaks to hospital employees Tuesday in the lobby of Hutcheson Medical Center.

ROME, Ga. -- The sale of Hutcheson Medical Center has been pushed back from Nov. 4 to Jan. 6.

During a hearing this morning, U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy ruled that north Georgia residents have not had enough chances to voice their opinions on the foreclosure of their community hospital. Murphy blamed himself, saying he was not clear enough during a court hearing in August, when he told lawyers for Hutcheson and Erlanger that they must have public hearings before the sale.

Erlanger held one in Catoosa County on Oct. 16.

"That is not an adequate public hearing," Murphy said.

Hutcheson officials will host their own public hearings on Nov. 11, Nov. 13 and Nov. 18.

Murphy said that Erlanger can begin to advertise the foreclosure again in December, then sell the property where Hutcheson stands on the first Tuesday of the new year.

Some Hutcheson employees hope Murphy's ruling buys time for a last-minute change of heart. Erlanger officials plan to sell the property because Hutcheson owes the Chattanooga hospital about $25 million.

During last week's public hearing, Erlanger Chief Administrative Officer Gregg Gentry told Hutcheson employees that Erlanger would not foreclose on their hospital if elected officials in Walker and Catoosa counties agreed to pay Erlanger the $20 million they owe.

This is a developing story. See tomorrow's Times Free Press for more information.

Contact Staff Writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6476.

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