Trial Underway in Comm Center Dispute

A Stanislaus County (Calif.) judge is hearing testimony this week in the lawsuit filed by neighboring San Joaquin County against the city of Stockton and three other cities for not complying with orders to route EMS calls to an AMR-operated comm center for handling. The dispute dates back to 2006 when the county’s EMS agency decided to change how EMS telephone calls were handled by dispatchers. Stockton officials say they have control over their own 911 system, not the county. The county claims it has “medical control” over the city’s 911 system. The county is also claiming that Stockton doesn’t have the authority to provide EMD services. The trial could last two weeks. Read more details here.