I have another suggestion.
Start making payments, sent CMRR, to the CA, on a regular basis. So if you get paid every two weeks, then send them a certified check or a money order (never use your own checks or a cc!) and always include a letter with your account number, a running tally of the debt owed, and what payments have been made.
Chances are, they will cash those checks or money orders.
If nothing else, you have the return receipt, the new letter generated that shows you are steadily paying down the balance, and your receipts for the cashier checks/money orders.
IF it still goes to court, you provide (in your answer) photocopies of all of the docs and receipts. No promise on how the judge will rule, but I tell ya, it looks pretty good for you that you have CONSISTENTLY made payments and the guys are suing you anyways. And the lawyers look pretty stupid in court, telling the judge that what you are sending is not good enough - they want more. 
I can't say I have exactly been there, done that. But I have come close....the lawsuit threats -- but as I pointed out to you, I pointed out to them, I am making payments to the best of my financial ability. And I do believe it's against the law for them to sue you for nonpayment of a debt when you are clearly making payments.
@IOBA wrote:I have another suggestion.
Start making payments, sent CMRR, to the CA, on a regular basis. So if you get paid every two weeks, then send them a certified check or a money order (never use your own checks or a cc!) and always include a letter with your account number, a running tally of the debt owed, and what payments have been made.
Chances are, they will cash those checks or money orders.
If nothing else, you have the return receipt, the new letter generated that shows you are steadily paying down the balance, and your receipts for the cashier checks/money orders.
IF it still goes to court, you provide (in your answer) photocopies of all of the docs and receipts. No promise on how the judge will rule, but I tell ya, it looks pretty good for you that you have CONSISTENTLY made payments and the guys are suing you anyways. And the lawyers look pretty stupid in court, telling the judge that what you are sending is not good enough - they want more.
I can't say I have exactly been there, done that. But I have come close....the lawsuit threats -- but as I pointed out to you, I pointed out to them, I am making payments to the best of my financial ability. And I do believe it's against the law for them to sue you for nonpayment of a debt when you are clearly making payments.
Unfortunately, no. An exception would be where as part of a payment plan they expressly agreeded not to take legal action.
@IOBA wrote:O6 - that can be the challenge, when they flat out refuse to a reasonable payment plan!
All the medical bills I have had all want to start payments at $250 or higher per month.
I have been blessed that I have not been sued, but hey, it could happen. I have an excellent reputation amongst the medical professions for making consistent payments until the debt is paid off. It doesn't stop a certain place from sending it to collections within 10 days, but it is always given back to them, and they always accept my regular payments.
Can you just wave your magic legal wand and make it illegal for them to sue if you are being consistent about making payments?? Pretty please??
I agree that getting them to accept a payment plan can be a major PITA. I don't know much about the HIPPA process, but does that make things any easier for those with medical debts?
It was explained to me one time that doctors like to send accounts to collections because they feel they have a better chance at getting paid that way and it frees them up from having to be bill collectors instead of doctors. I'm not sure how true that is, though. I would think that cutting all the middle men out of the picture and dealing directly with the doctor would give better results.
I've got to fine tune that magic wand a bit. Once I get it to work with getting the kids to STHU when I get home from work on paydays, I'll try to get it tuned to handle medical collections. 
Hospital (here) are NOTORIOUS for sending things to collections before the bill even reaches the insurance company! If there is even a hint you might not be able to pay in full, it's gone to collections.
I pay, regardless. Usually I can get things set up on a recurring cc payment.
Besides reminding them that I incurred the bill with them, I owe them, I want to pay them, I have another little trick tucked away. I remind them if I have to deal with collections, they will offer a settlement, and I will pay less than 50% of the bill, and they will receive about 40% of THAT amount.
When I put it in that perspective -- accept payments for the full amount, or receive about 20-25% of the original bill -- they have always come back around. It will still take about the same amount of time, or longer, to receive that money. We still may not agree to the payment plan, but they accept my money every month.
You might wonder, why not let it go to collections and settle? It would definitely save me money! I don't, because It's the principle of the thing. As much as I disagree with the outrageous amount charged, I did receive a service, and I agreed to pay for it. Therefore, I need to pay.