HOSPITAL COMMITTEE FOR LIVERMORE-PLEASANTON AREAS v. City of Oakland

Defendant City of Oakland appeals from a judgment for plaintiff The Hospital Committee for the Livermore-Pleasanton Areas, doing business as ValleyCare Health System, after plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment was granted. The judgment holds the City of Oakland liable for costs of medical care at plaintiff’s hospital to an individual who temporarily had been incarcerated in the city jail for violations of probation and parole. We conclude that the County of Alameda, rather than the City of Oakland, was responsible for the medical costs. We therefore reverse the judgment and direct entry of judgment in the City of Oakland’s favor.

I. BACKGROUND

Oakland Police Officer Samuel Francis arrested Kenneth Denham on May 22, 2003, the Thursday before the Memorial Day weekend, for possession of heroin (Health & Saf. Code, § 11350). Denham was on probation and parole. At the time of the arrest, Francis spoke with Denham’s California Department of Corrections parole officer, who placed a parole hold on Denham. Denham was transported to and booked into the Oakland City jail. On Friday, May 23, 2003, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed a petition to revoke Denham’s…