Facing an order to begin laying off employees today, Hutcheson Medical Center leaders will ask a judge for permission to keep the hospital running for an extra two weeks.
Stuart James, an attorney representing Walker County, plans to file a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court asking to keep the hospital running through Dec. 21, according to internal emails obtained by the Times Free Press. In the motion, James tells Judge Paul Bonapfel that Bankruptcy Trustee Ronald Glass plans to lay off employees later today.
Glass also plans to make the hospital stop accepting patients Friday, then to shut down full time on Dec. 4.
James wrote in his motion that the hospital has enough money to stay open until Dec. 21. He said closing the hospital hurts Hutcheson’s chances of getting more bids to buy the place – which would allow the community hospital to stay open.
Glass did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Hutcheson CEO Farrell Hayes was also not available for comment this afternoon.