Case Name: Melinda Denise BIGELOW v. UNION COUNTY and UNION MEDICAL CENTER
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1985-12-23
Citations: 287 Ark. 486
Docket Number: 85-194
Parties: Melinda Denise BIGELOW v. UNION COUNTY and UNION MEDICAL CENTER
Judges: Purtle, J., not participating.
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 287
Pages: 486–487

Head Matter:
Melinda Denise BIGELOW v. UNION COUNTY and UNION MEDICAL CENTER
85-194
701 S.W.2d 125
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Opinion delivered December 23, 1985
Compton, Prewett, Thomas & Hickey, P.A., by: Floyd M. Thomas, Jr., for appellant.
William A. McLean, for appellee.

Opinion:
David Newbern, Justice.
The issue presented here is whether a tort claim against Union County and the Union County Medical Center which is owned and run by the county was erroneously dismissed upon appeal from the county judge to the circuit court. We hold the circuit court properly dismissed the claim, and thus the decision is affirmed.
Ark. Stat. Ann. § 12-2901 (Repl. 1979) makes the county immune from tort liability for the acts of its agents and employees. Realizing she could not sue the county initially in the circuit court, the appellant presented her claim to the county judge pursuant to Ark. Stat. Ann. § 17-702 (Repl. 1980). The county had not provided a means for settling tort claims against it as is authorized, but not required, by Ark. Stat. Ann. § 12-2902 (Repl. 1979).
Upon denial of her claim by the county judge, the appellant sought a de novo review in the circuit court in accordance with Ark. Stat. Ann. § 27-2006 (Repl. 1979) which provides that the circuit court ". . . shall proceed to try all such appeals de novo as other cases at law. . . ." In his appellant review, the circuit judge held the provisions of § 12-2901 immunized the county from the appellant's tort claim. The circuit court thus did, in the de novo review, exactly as it would have had to do if the case had been brought "as other cases at law." We find no error.
Affirmed.
Purtle, J., not participating.