Lawsuits Filed over East Texas Ambulance Services

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County and the City of Tyler are being sued in a dispute about ambulance service. Smith County Commissioners have hired an outside attorney to handle the case filed by Champion EMS, which is affiliated with the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler. Champion brought the suit as a counterclaim after ETMC EMS, part of UT Health East Texas, sued Champion. That lawsuit claims Champion was infringing on a contract ETMC has with the City of Tyler, Smith County and the Smith County Emergency Management Service. ETMC has asked the court to order Champion to stop performing ambulance services in the region, while Champion contends ETMC conspired to form an illegal monopoly.