WALB-TV: An Albany and Camilla attorneys will represent state in sue filed against DCH

February 20, 2008

Albany-  An Albany and Camilla attorney have been appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to represent the state Department of Community Health in a lawsuit filed by Phoebe Putney Hospital and the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and the Georgia Alliance of Community Health challenge the Board of Community Health’s recent vote to make general surgery a single specialty. That would allow surgeons to open outpatient clinics. Attorney Charlie Peeler who will represent the state says the issue isn’t about the certificate of need, but does the Department of Community Health have the authority to change its own rules?

“We of course contend that it does, just like the department of transportation has the authority to change its rules and the department of education has the authority to change its rules,” said Attorney Charlie Peeler.

Peeler said both he and his co-counsel Camilla Attorney Patrick Millsaps have had plenty of experience with these types of cases.

http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=7901130