The Tennessee Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court’s decision to grant an extension to file certificate of good faith in a medical malpractice case, finding “good cause” based on parties’ confusion on Tennessee case law. In Stovall v. UHS of Lakeside, LLC , No. W2013-01504-COA-R9-CV (Tenn. Ct. App.…
Day on Torts
Delaware Court Reminds Tennessee Lawyers That Causation Must be Established in Cancer Malpractice Cases
Our office is fortunate to be sought out in a large number of Tennessee medical malpractice cases involving cancer. Most of the cases involve a delay in the diagnosis of cancer, that is, that the patient presented with certain symptoms or physical findings that should have triggered a diagnosis…
Tolling of Statute of Limitations Not Lost by Failure to Comply with Return of Process Rule
Although Rule 4.03 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure requires return of process within ninety days of its issuance, a plaintiff failing to comply with this standard may still keep his or her case alive under Rule 3. In the recent case of Monday v. Thomas, the Tennessee Court of…
You’ll Get Nothing and Like It!
It is a classic line in the movie Caddyshack, but it quickly sums up the end result in this case too. This is a two car, intersection case in which both drivers sought damages from the other. After a two day trial, the jury returned a verdict finding both the…
How NOT to Handle an ERISA Subrogation Lien
Georgia lawyer David T. Lashgari thought it was a good idea to distribute $500,000 in personal injury settlement proceeds knowing that there was an ERISA-protected subrogation interest for $180,000. Then he thought it was a good idea to fight an effort by the subrogee to get the money from him and his client. …
After this Case, the Wedding is Going to be Pretty Awkward
This is a slip and fall case. The plaintiff was engaged to the defendants’ daughter. On multiple occasions, the defendants had hosted the plaintiff at their lake home for extended visits. In the summer of 2010, the plaintiff was again the invited guest of the defendants. Shortly before his visit, the power company…
Tennessee Adopts Statute of Repose for Malpractice Claims Against Attorneys and Accountants
Effective July 1, 2014 state law will grant Tennessee lawyers and accountants a five-year statute of repose for malpractice claims. The only exception is for fraudulent concealment by the defendant, in which event the claim must be filed within one year of the date of discovery. A one year statute of…
New Notice Not Required for Second Filing of Medical Malpractice Case in Tennessee
In Tennessee, before a plaintiff may file a lawsuit for medical malpractice, he or she must give pre-suit notice to the defendants in compliance with a Tennessee statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121(a). In Potter v. Perrigan, the Court of Appeals recently addressed whether a plaintiff who properly gives notice…
Health Care POA Must Have Specific Authority to Agree
The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently decided Wilkins v. GGNSC Springfield, a case involving alleged nursing home abuse and neglect in which the decedent’s health care power of attorney signed an optional arbitration agreement on behalf of the decedent. The nursing home sought to compel arbitration, but the trial court denied…
Tennessee Court of Appeals Reverses Finding of No Liability of Jailer for Failure to Provide Proper Medical Care to Inmate
The recent case of Payne v. Tipton County gave the Tennessee Court of Appeals the opportunity to review the finding of the trial court of no liability on the part of the defendant, Tipton County, for failure to provide appropriate and timely medical care to an inmate. The inmate suffered a severe hypertensive…