disputed copay & lost property

Last year, a friend of mine called the Police to investigate the missing stuff at her home. Instead, the police officer forced her to enter the emergency room of a hospital. The police was wrong since she had no medical emergency at that time which has been proved by the examined doctor in the hospital. After that she went home without any treatment and the police promised her “they will take care of the medical bill”.
Actually the big medical bill except the $50 copay has been paid by her insurance. By the way, she lost her property in amount of $23,000 which the security person of the hospital didn’t return to her!
Now the hospital retained a lawyer to collect the copay and the lawyer told her he will effectually collect the $50 copay if she will not pay the copay soon! Did someone know how the lawyer to collect the copay? By the collect agent or go to the court? Will that influence her credit if not pay the dispute copay since she thought she lost far more than that?