In its legal response, the hospital says there's no medical evidence that anyone burned or cut letters into Vernon Traversie. The hospital says every mark on Traversie's abdomen can be explained by the medical procedures that he underwent to save his life.

The allegations of K-K-K being carved in Traversie led to this protest march to the hospital back in May. Traversie's lawsuit claims the racial nature of the assault against him has cut him deeper than any physical assault could. The hospital says there was no assault. The hospital's response denies that any surgical scarring is the result of care that was not medically necessary. Traversie's spokesman says it was expected that the hospital would deny the allegations.

-Jack Caudill