It's been four years since news reports first emerged about Doctor John King. He's the osteopathic physician whose brief tenure at the former Putnam General Hospital spurred more than a hundred lawsuits.

On Monday, a jury is hearing about King for the first time. But the civil case in Putnam County Circuit Court does not allege medical malpractice.

Instead, lawyers are asking jurors to determine whether Putnam General should be faulted for granting King temporary credentials in November 2002.

On one side are lawyers for former patients. They allege the hospital ignored numerous red flags on King's application.

But lawyers for the former Putnam General say the hospital followed a seven-step screening process. They also argue that much of what is known now about King could not have been learned back in 2002.

Tennessee-based HCA owned the hospital when King was hired. The facility has since been sold to Charleston Area Medical Center and renamed CAMC Teays Valley.

King now goes by the name Christopher Martin, and lives in Alabama. He is not expected to appear at the trial, which is likely to last until next week.