Brown

Plaintiff Chelsey Brown (Brown) seeks a writ of mandamus compelling defendants Phillip Crandall, as Director of the Humboldt *5 County Department of Health and Human Services, and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (collectively, the County) to offer medical coverage to her and other indigent residents deemed ineligible for the County Medical Services Program (CMSP), in accordance with the County’s duty to provide medical care to all indigent residents not otherwise “supported and relieved.” (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 17000.) 1 She appeals from a judgment of dismissal entered after the trial court sustained the County’s demurrer to her writ petition without leave to amend, concluding she has no standing to enforce the County’s duty under this provision. We reverse the judgment because we disagree with the trial court’s conclusion that Brown does not fall within the class of persons to whom the County owes such a duty and conclude that she has standing to enforce a public duty under this section as to other indigent residents.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On August 4, 2008, Brown started a new job and was told her health insurance benefits would begin in six…