Woman's suit against St. Clair County over weight loss surgery set for conference

A woman's suit against St. Clair County over its failure to pay for her weight loss surgery is set for status conference at 9:30 a.m. on May 5.

Status hearings in the case have been moved and reset several times since last year.

The latest status conference was reset by a Feb. 18 order signed by St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert LeChien.

Plaintiff Tisa Gartney is suing St. Clair County for at least $33,000 in damages.

According to her complaint, Gartney received a recommendation that she undergo aproscopic adjustable gastric banding in April 2006.

The procedure is used to promote weight loss.

Gartney then checked with her St. Clair County administered health care plan to make sure the surgery's costs were covered.

After the insurance plan authorized the surgery, she underwent the procedure that July.

Then, according to the complaint, the insurance refused to pay for the surgery.

St. Clair County, while admitting to certain elements of Gartney's complaint, denies any wrongdoing.

The plaintiff is represented by Kevin Boyne of Belleville.

The county is represented by Alvin Paulson of Belleville.

The case is St. Clair case number 09-L-151.