EX-5.1 2 d356989dex51.htm OPINION OF KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP <![CDATA[Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP]]>

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

 

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

  
  (212) 446-4800    Facsimile:    
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  www.kirkland.com   
  May 23, 2012   

Community Health Systems, Inc.

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.

4000 Meridian Boulevard

Franklin, TN 37067

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as special counsel to Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and each of the other guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto (the “Guarantors” and, together with the Parent and the Issuer, the “Registrants”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Registrants to register the following securities: senior and subordinated debt securities of the Parent and Issuer (collectively, the “Debt Securities”) and the guarantees thereof (the “Guarantees”); shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Parent (the “Common Stock”); shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Parent (the “Preferred Stock”); warrants of the Parent to purchase securities (the “Warrants”); and shares of Preferred Stock of the Parent represented by depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional share or multiple shares of Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”), all of which securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).

In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that (a) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), relating to the offered securities will have become effective under the Act; (b) a prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the Registration Statement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the securities offered thereby; (c) all offered securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate Prospectus Supplement; (d) a definitive purchase, underwriting, sales agency or similar agreement with respect to the offered securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the issuer of the securities and the other parties thereto; (e) any applicable indenture and indenture trustee will have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and (f) that the Parent will receive at least par value for the any equity security issued.

 

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Subject to the assumptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations which are identified in this letter, we advise you that:

1. When the Debt Securities and the applicable indenture have been authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the applicable indenture has been duly executed by the parties thereto, and the Debt Securities have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the applicable indenture against payment therefor, the Debt Securities will be validly issued and the Debt Securities will constitute binding obligations of the Parent or the Issuer, as applicable.

2. When the Guarantees and the applicable indenture have been authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the applicable indenture has been duly executed by the parties thereto, and the Guarantees have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the applicable indenture against payment therefor, the Guarantees will be validly issued and will constitute binding obligations of such Guarantors.

3. When the Common Stock and/or the Preferred Stock have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate authorization and issued upon receipt of payment therefor, the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

4. When the Warrants and the related warrant agreement have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the warrant agreement has been duly executed by the parties thereto, and the Warrants have been executed, countersigned, and delivered in accordance with the warrant agreement against payment therefor, the Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute binding obligations of the Parent.

5. When the Depositary Shares and any Preferred Stock in the form of Depositary Shares have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares has been duly delivered to the depositary under the applicable deposit agreement, and the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares have been executed, countersigned, and delivered in accordance with the deposit agreement against payment therefor, the Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the applicable depositary receipts and depositary agreement.

Our opinions expressed above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law), (iii) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, and (iv) any laws except the laws of the State of Illinois, the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including the applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

 

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We did not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement this opinion in response to changes in law or future events or other circumstances. The opinion expressed herein concerns only the effect of the law (excluding the principles of conflicts of law) of the State of Illinois, the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.

This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and may not be used, circulated, quoted relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person for any other purpose without our prior written consent.

We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Parent, the Issuer, the Guarantors, and other sources.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this opinion in the Registration Statement in the section “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Kirkland & Ellis LLP
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

 

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Schedule A

 

Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Abilene Hospital, LLC

   DE

Abilene Merger, LLC

   DE

Affinity Health Systems, LLC

   DE

Affinity Hospital, LLC

   DE

Anna Hospital Corporation

   IL

Berwick Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Big Bend Hospital Corporation

   TX

Big Spring Hospital Corporation

   TX

Birmingham Holdings II, LLC

   DE

Birmingham Holdings, LLC

   DE

Bluefield Holdings, LLC

   DE

Bluefield Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Blue Island Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Blue Island Illinois Holdings, LLC

   DE

Bluffton Health System, LLC

   DE

Brownsville Hospital Corporation

   TN

Brownwood Hospital, L.P.

   DE

Brownwood Medical Center, LLC

   DE

Bullhead City Hospital Corporation

   AZ

Bullhead City Hospital Investment Corporation

   DE

Carlsbad Medical Center, LLC

   DE

Centre Hospital Corporation

   AL

CHHS Holdings, LLC

   DE

CHS Kentucky Holdings, LLC

   DE

CHS Pennsylvania Holdings, LLC

   DE

CHS Virginia Holdings, LLC

   DE

CHS Washington Holdings, LLC

   DE

 

4


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Clarksville Holdings, LLC

   DE

Cleveland Hospital Corporation

   TN

Cleveland Tennessee Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Clinton Hospital Corporation

   PA

Coatesville Hospital Corporation

   PA

College Station Hospital, L.P.

   DE

College Station Medical Center, LLC

   DE

College Station Merger, LLC

   DE

Community GP Corp.

   DE

Community Health Investment Company, LLC

   DE

Community LP Corp.

   DE

CP Hospital GP, LLC

   DE

CPLP, LLC

   DE

Crestwood Hospital, LLC

   DE

Crestwood Hospital, LP, LLC

   DE

CSMC, LLC

   DE

CSRA Holdings, LLC

   DE

Deaconess Holdings, LLC

   DE

Deaconess Hospital Holdings, LLC

   DE

Deming Hospital Corporation

   NM

Desert Hospital Holdings, LLC

   DE

Detar Hospital, LLC

   DE

DHFW Holdings, LLC

   DE

DHSC, LLC

   DE

Dukes Health System, LLC

   DE

Dyersburg Hospital Corporation

   TN

Emporia Hospital Corporation

   VA

Evanston Hospital Corporation

   WY

Fallbrook Hospital Corporation

   DE

Foley Hospital Corporation

   AL

Forrest City Arkansas Hospital Company, LLC

   AR

 

5


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Forrest City Hospital Corporation

   AR

Fort Payne Hospital Corporation

   AL

Frankfort Health Partner, Inc.

   IN

Franklin Hospital Corporation

   VA

Gadsden Regional Medical Center, LLC

   DE

Galesburg Hospital Corporation

   IL

Granbury Hospital Corporation

   TX

Granite City Hospital Corporation

   IL

Granite City Illinois Hospital Company, LLC

   IL

Greenville Hospital Corporation

   AL

GRMC Holdings, LLC

   DE

Hallmark Healthcare Company, LLC

   DE

Hobbs Medco, LLC

   DE

Hospital of Barstow, Inc.

   DE

Hospital of Fulton, Inc.

   KY

Hospital of Louisa, Inc.

   KY

Hospital of Morristown, Inc.

   TN

Jackson Hospital Corporation (KY)

   KY

Jackson Hospital Corporation (TN)

   TN

Jourdanton Hospital Corporation

   TX

Kay County Hospital Corporation

   OK

Kay County Oklahoma Hospital Company, LLC

   OK

Kirksville Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Lakeway Hospital Corporation

   TN

Lancaster Hospital Corporation

   DE

Las Cruces Medical Center, LLC

   DE

Lea Regional Hospital, LLC

   DE

Lexington Hospital Corporation

   TN

Longview Clinic Operations Company, LLC

   DE

Longview Medical Center, L.P.

   DE

Longview Merger, LLC

   DE

 

6


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

LRH, LLC

   DE

Lutheran Health Network of Indiana, LLC

   DE

Marion Hospital Corporation

   IL

Martin Hospital Corporation

   TN

Massillon Community Health System LLC

   DE

Massillon Health System LLC

   DE

Massillon Holdings, LLC

   DE

McKenzie Tennessee Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

McNairy Hospital Corporation

   TN

MCSA, L.L.C.

   AR

Medical Center of Brownwood, LLC

   DE

Merger Legacy Holdings, LLC

   DE

MMC of Nevada, LLC

   DE

Moberly Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

MWMC Holdings, LLC

   DE

Nanticoke Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

National Healthcare of Leesville, Inc.

   DE

National Healthcare of Mt. Vernon, Inc.

   DE

National Healthcare of Newport, Inc.

   DE

Navarro Hospital, L.P.

   DE

Navarro Regional, LLC

   DE

NC-DSH, LLC

   NV

Northampton Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Northwest Hospital, LLC

   DE

NOV Holdings, LLC

   DE

NRH, LLC

   DE

Oak Hill Hospital Corporation

   WV

Oro Valley Hospital, LLC

   DE

Palmer-Wasilla Health System, LLC

   DE

Payson Hospital Corporation

   AZ

Peckville Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

 

7


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Pennsylvania Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Phillips Hospital Corporation

   AR

Phoenixville Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Pottstown Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

QHG Georgia Holdings II, LLC

   DE

QHG Georgia Holdings, Inc.

   GA

QHG Georgia, LP

   GA

QHG of Bluffton Company, LLC

   DE

QHG of Clinton County, Inc.

   IN

QHG of Enterprise, Inc.

   AL

QHG of Forrest County, Inc.

   MS

QHG of Fort Wayne Company, LLC

   DE

QHG of Hattiesburg, Inc.

   MS

QHG of Massillon, Inc.

   OH

QHG of South Carolina, Inc.

   SC

QHG of Spartanburg, Inc.

   SC

QHG of Springdale, Inc.

   AR

QHG of Warsaw Company, LLC

   DE

Quorum Health Resources, LLC

   DE

Red Bud Hospital Corporation

   IL

Red Bud Illinois Hospital Company, LLC

   IL

Regional Hospital of Longview, LLC

   DE

River Region Medical Corporation

   MS

Roswell Hospital Corporation

   NM

Ruston Hospital Corporation

   DE

Ruston Louisiana Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

SACMC, LLC

   DE

Salem Hospital Corporation

   NJ

San Angelo Community Medical Center, LLC

   DE

San Angelo Medical, LLC

   DE

San Miguel Hospital Corporation

   NM

 

8


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Scranton Holdings, LLC

   DE

Scranton Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Scranton Quincy Holdings, LLC

   DE

Scranton Quincy Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Shelbyville Hospital Corporation

   TN

Siloam Springs Arkansas Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Siloam Springs Holdings, LLC

   DE

Southern Texas Medical Center, LLC

   DE

Spokane Valley Washington Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Spokane Washington Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Tennyson Holdings, LLC

   DE

Tomball Texas Holdings, LLC

   DE

Tomball Texas Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Tooele Hospital Corporation

   UT

Triad Healthcare Corporation

   DE

Triad Holdings III, LLC

   DE

Triad Holdings IV, LLC

   DE

Triad Holdings V, LLC

   DE

Triad Nevada Holdings, LLC

   DE

Triad of Alabama, LLC

   DE

Triad of Oregon, LLC

   DE

Triad-ARMC, LLC

   DE

Triad-El Dorado, Inc.

   AR

Triad-Navarro Regional Hospital Subsidiary, LLC

   DE

Tunkhannock Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

VHC Medical, LLC

   DE

Vicksburg Healthcare, LLC

   DE

Victoria Hospital, LLC

   DE

Victoria of Texas, L.P.

   DE

Virginia Hospital Company, LLC

   VA

Warren Ohio Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

 

9


Guarantors

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Formation

Warren Ohio Rehab Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Watsonville Hospital Corporation

   DE

Waukegan Hospital Corporation

   IL

Waukegan Illinois Hospital Company, LLC

   IL

Weatherford Hospital Corporation

   TX

Weatherford Texas Hospital Company, LLC

   TX

Webb Hospital Corporation

   DE

Webb Hospital Holdings, LLC

   DE

Wesley Health System, LLC

   DE

West Grove Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

WHMC, LLC

   DE

Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Hospital Company, LLC

   DE

Wilkes-Barre Holdings, LLC

   DE

 

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