YRMC and District Board lawsuit one step closer to trial

District Board lawyer says meeting to set trial date is scheduled for next month

YUMA, Ariz. - The lawsuit between hospital district board one and Yuma Regional Medical Center could be one step closer to going to trial.

A legal representative for the District Board confirmed to News 11 an in-court meeting to set a trial date will take place in April.

The lawsuit stems from disagreements in the policies and procedures agreement between the boards, which states YRMC should supply monthly updates to the district board about the hospital.

YRMC says it is following all of the rules, but the hospital district board disagrees.

All the while, the District Board is charging residents a tax to help keep up with legal costs.

YRMC says it would not cover those costs until they were able to see each charge line for line. The district board says it can't provide that information because it's confidential.

Board Member Dr. Jeremy Curry expressed frustration saying no members of the YRMC leadership or board were present at tonight's meeting.

“It is disappointing to me that none of the YRMC administration will come to these meetings," Curry said. "I just want you to know that we work for you, and we are representing you in all these negotiations.”

The District Board's lawyer says he anticipates the formal trial to be set in 2023 because of court backups due to the pandemic.

The board also confirmed it met with hospital leadership late last month, but no details were provided on what happened during that executive session.

District Board chair Jeffrey Polston has said taxpayers will be reimbursed for legal fees if the District Board wins the lawsuit.