Ambulance Lawsuit Hearing Delayed

A hearing in the suit brought by Altamont Ambulance Service against the Effingham County Board has been rescheduled.

The hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but the County's attorney in the case, Chris Koester of Effingham, has received notice that another case of his is to be heard in the 5th District Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon Wednesday morning. The local case has been continued, probably until April.

Altamont Ambulance is suing the County, saying the County breached their contract with the ambulance servicce by amending the ambulance ordinance to allow other ambulance companies to handle non-emergency transfers in the county.

For their part, the County Board alleges that Altamont Ambulance has committed a series of violations of the contract. Koester said Tuesday that he is filing a counterclaim on behalf of the County Board alleging breach of contract by Altamont Ambulance.

In the meantime, a temporary restraining order issued November 25, 2014 remains in effect, stopping the County from making changes to the ambulance contract. The Board had taken action last year to amend the ambulance ordinance. The change would allow other ambulance companies to handle non-emergency transfers in the county.