Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority v. Bradley County
This case addresses whether Bradley County is liable for the medical expenses of Brandon Ramsey, who was injured in a shooting and treated at Erlanger Health System. Ramsey was subject to a 'police hold' but was never formally arrested or confined in the county jail during his hospitalization. The Tennessee Supreme Court, interpreting Tenn.Code Ann. § 41-4-115, determined that the statute only obligates counties to provide medical care for 'prisoners confined in the jail.' As Ramsey did not meet this criterion, the Court reversed the Court of Appeals' decision and dismissed Erlanger's complaint. The Court also overruled a prior Court of Appeals case, Erlanger I, which had expanded the meaning of 'confined in the jail' to include police custody.