Advice for a friend in need

[Lord T Hawkeye]

I got a friend in the US who's being, IMO unjustly, hounded by a collections company and wondered if anyone had any advice I could pass on to him.

In a nutshell, some time ago he went to the hospital with chest pains.  They basically ran him through some tests that weren't needed and did not produce a diagnosis.  He did sign a form but he was in too much pain at the time to read it and when he asked them about the cost beforehand, all they said was "Don't worry about it."  Nevertheless, they now want 3400$ from him.  He does not have that, him and his girlfriend are self employed and are far from rich.

He's worried about being called into court because it won't even be a fight.  I wish I had some advice to give him but the legal system isn't my area of expertise.

I know it's a long shot but anyone know anything that can help?

[IceSage]

The most important part about asking about something like this, is to tell us the state in which your friend resides. Always mention the state when asking for advice of this nature.

Secondly, I probably don't have any useful advice about this, but I had a similar experience. Someone decided it would be hilarious to play a joke on me, and call the cops and told them I was going to kill myself. They escorted me to a hospital, where over and over again, they told me that I "wouldn't be charged" and I told them, "I don't have insurance for any of this, I'm not here by choice." They kept saying "It's okay, you won't be charged." I basically had blood exams and sat in a room for 5 hours because some psycho lady in the next room needed a translator.

Anyway, long story short, they sent me a bill for a little bit under the amount you stated. I ended up having my father's lawyer friend take care of it. It mysteriously vanished.

I know that's horrible advice... But if they have a friend in the family who is a lawyer, ask them about this, and maybe they can resolve it and make the bill "vanish" as my lawyer was able to.

[Lord T Hawkeye]

State is Tennessee IIRC.

[MrBogosity]

How does he know it won't be a fight? If it's over $20, then he has a Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. Explain the situation to a jury and I'm SURE they won't be happy. It should be easy enough for a lawyer to subpoena the hospital records and show that nothing was done. He might even countersue for harassment.

[Lord T Hawkeye]

How does he know it won't be a fight?

Because the hospital has a form signed by him agreeing to the whole thing.  How does one make the case that it was signed under duress?

[MrBogosity]

Diminished capacity due to the pain. IANAL, but it seems straightforward to me.