In this Oklahoma town, most everyone knows someone who’s been sued by the hospital

McALESTER, Okla. — It took little more than an hour for Deborah Hackler to dispense with the tall stack of debt collection lawsuits that McAlester Regional Medical Center recently brought to small-claims court in this Oklahoma farm community.

Hackler, a lawyer who sues patients on behalf of the hospital, buzzed through 51 cases, all but a handful uncontested, as is often the case.

She bantered with the judge as she secured nearly $40,000 in judgments, plus 10% in fees for herself, according to court records.