The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a district court judgment favoring St. Luke's Health System and its medical staff in a case against Diego Rodriguez and organizations affiliated with political activist Ammon Bundy, according to an opinion filed February 10, 2026.
Justice Meyer authored the opinion in *St. Luke's Health System, Ltd. v. Rodriguez*, which arose from the Fourth Judicial District Court in Ada County. The case involved St. Luke's Health System, Ltd.; St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Ltd.; Chris Roth, the CEO of St. Luke's; Dr. Natasha D. Erickson; and Tracy W. Jungman, a nurse practitioner employed by the hospital system.
Rodriguez served as the primary defendant-appellant, representing himself pro se in the appeal after submitting written arguments. The case also named several entities connected to Ammon Bundy, including Ammon Bundy for Governor, a political organization; Freedom Man Press, LLC; Freedom Man PAC, a registered political action committee; and People's Rights Network, described as both a political organization and unincorporated association.
The district court proceedings were overseen by District Judges Lynn Norton and Nancy Baskin. According to the Supreme Court opinion, the district court entered a default judgment regarding liability, though the complete details of the underlying dispute were not fully detailed in the available court documents.
Rodriguez appealed the district court's judgment, but the Idaho Supreme Court found no grounds to reverse the lower court's decision. The high court's affirmance means the original judgment in favor of the healthcare system and its employees remains in effect.
Holland & Hart LLP represented the St. Luke's defendants, with attorney Erik F. Stidham presenting oral arguments before the Supreme Court. The law firm's Boise office handled the case for the healthcare system, medical center, and individual defendants.
The case appears to involve the broader People's Rights Network organization, which has been associated with various political activities in Idaho. Ammon Bundy, known for his involvement in armed standoffs with federal authorities in Nevada and Oregon, has maintained a political presence in Idaho through various organizations.
St. Luke's Health System operates multiple facilities across Idaho and has been a prominent healthcare provider in the region. The system includes St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and employs numerous medical professionals, including the individual defendants named in this case.
The Supreme Court's decision represents the final resolution of this particular legal dispute, as Rodriguez's appeal has been rejected. The affirmance of the district court judgment means that whatever relief was granted to St. Luke's and its employees in the original proceedings remains valid and enforceable.
While the specific nature of the underlying claims and the district court's reasoning were not detailed in the available portions of the Supreme Court opinion, the case demonstrates the healthcare system's successful defense against claims brought by Rodriguez and the associated Bundy-affiliated entities.
The involvement of multiple Bundy-related organizations as defendants suggests this case may have stemmed from broader political or ideological disputes rather than traditional medical malpractice or healthcare-related claims. However, without access to the complete record or lower court proceedings, the exact nature of the original dispute remains unclear.
The case proceeded through the normal appellate process, with Rodriguez choosing to represent himself rather than retain counsel for the Supreme Court proceedings. This pro se representation is relatively uncommon in Supreme Court appeals, which typically involve complex legal arguments requiring specialized expertise.
The Idaho Supreme Court's November 2025 term addressed this appeal along with other cases, ultimately resulting in the February 2026 opinion that definitively resolved the matter in favor of the healthcare defendants.
The affirmance sends a clear message about the state high court's willingness to uphold district court judgments when they are properly supported by law and evidence. For St. Luke's Health System and its employees, the ruling provides final vindication of their position in this legal dispute.
This case adds to the body of Idaho Supreme Court jurisprudence involving healthcare providers and demonstrates the court system's handling of cases that may involve political organizations or activists. The final resolution allows all parties to move forward without further litigation on these particular claims.