Catoosa County Commissioners are seeking an investigation into the actions of former officials of Hutcheson Hospital, who led the facility into bankruptcy.
The commissioners voted to ask the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit district attorney to look into what brought the downfall of the Fort Oglethorpe hospital.
Catoosa and Walker counties were left liable for $10 million each due to Erlanger Health System, which took over operation of the failing hospital.
The commissioners said: "Hutcheson Medical Center declared bankruptcy in 2014 and closed its doors in 2015 after many years of financial problems and issues.
The bankruptcy and closure of Hutcheson Medical Center imposed a significant financial burden on the taxpayers of Catoosa and Walker Counties due to re-payment of debts of Hutcheson that were guaranteed by the two counties. Both before and after its bankruptcy and closure, several allegations of financial and other mismanagement and acts of malfeasance have been made concerning the operations of Hutcheson Medical Center. On behalf of the taxpayers of Catoosa County and the former employees of Hutcheson Medical Center, the Board of Commissioners desires to request that the District Attorney of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit empanel a grand jury and open an investigation into the operations of Hutcheson Medical Center to determine whether any potential criminal activities occurred by any individual or individuals involved in the operations of Hutcheson Medical Center. The Board of Commissioners desires to further request that the District Attorney utilize the GBI and any other state or local resources available to conduct the investigation."