Quick settlement not likely in Effingham County ambulance dispute

EFFINGHAM, Ill. — The attorney representing Effingham County in its long-running dispute with Altamont Ambulance Inc. said a settlement is unlikely this week, even though online court records show that all court dates in the case have been vacated.

"I don't think there's any way this case could be settled by Friday," said Chris Koester. "It's logistically impossible."

Altamont Ambulance sued the county after the County Board passed an ordinance in 2014 that company officials say opens the door for other ambulance companies to set up shop within the county. The county later counter-sued, alleging that Altamont Ambulance — which also does business as Effingham City-County Ambulance — violated its contract providing substandard levels of care.

Altamont Ambulance had been granted exclusive rights in 2004 to handle emergency calls within the county, a contract that was renewed in 2010.

The case was scheduled to go to trial next month. But Koester and ambulance company attorney Eric Walter of St. Louis appeared before a mediator last month. Koester said the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which includes Effingham County, encourages mediation in many civil cases. Under Rule 12-2, mediation can either be ordered by the presiding judge in the case or by agreement among the two parties.

Judge Allan Lolie noted in a docket entry after the June 16 mediation that "parties report some progress made."

But Koester wouldn't describe the nature of that progress in an interview.

"We don't want to say a whole lot about what we have done, or how far we have left to go," he said.

Walter could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Lolie has ordered the attorneys to participate in a conference call Friday afternoon to apprise him of their progress.

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©2016 the Effingham Daily News
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