### IN THE SUPREME COU RT OF TEN NESSEE

AT NASHVILL E Sep te m be r 1, 2 01 1 S es si on at Kn ox vi ll e

MICH AEL LI ND v. BEAMAN DODGE , INC., d/b /a BEAMAN DODGE

CHRYSLE R JEE P E T A L



### .

A p p e a l b y P e r m i s s i o n f r o m t h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s , M i d d l e S e c t i o n
C i r c u i t C o u r t f

o r R u t h e r f

o r d C o u n t y

N o

. 5 9 4 8 5 R o y c e T a y l o r , J u d g e

N o

. M 2 0 1 0

- 0 1 6 8 0

- S C

- S 0 9

- C V

- F i l e d D e c e m b e r 1 5

, 2 0 1 1

C O R N E LIA A

. C LA R K

, C

. J

. , c o n c u r r i n g i n t h e j u d g m e n t

.

I c o n c u r i n t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e C o u r t

, b u t I d o n o t j o i n t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t

a p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n b a s e d o n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y d o e s n o t a c c r u e a g a i n s t a n o n

- m a n u f a c t u r i n g

s e l l e r u n t i l t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r “ h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b ) ( 2 0 0 0 )

. R a t h e r , I w o u l d h o l d t h a t a p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y c a u s e o f a c t i o n a c c r u e s “ o n

t h e d a t e o f t h e p e r s o n a l i n j u r y , ” a s p r o v i d e d i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 8

- 3

- 1 0 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( 2 0 0 0 )

. H o w e v e r , I w o u l d h o l d t h a t

, w i t h r e s p e c t t o c l a i m s a g a i n s t a n o n

m a n u f a c t u r i n g s e l l e r b a s e d o n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y , t h e o n e

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s i s t o l l e d u n t i l 1

t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r “ h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

.

A n a l y s i s

T h i s a p p e a l i n v o l v e s a n a n a l y s i s o f s e v e r a l s t a t u t e s , n o n e o f w h i c h p r o v i d e s a
d e f i n i t i v e a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f f i r s t i m p r e s s i o n p r e s e n t e d

. T h e a n a l y s i s o f t h i s i s s u e

m u s t b e g u i d e d b y t h e f a m i l i a r r u l e s o f s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n

. T h e r o l e o f c o u r t s i n

c o n s t r u i n g s t a t u t e s i s t o d e t e r m i n e l e g i s l a t i v e i n t e n t a n d t o e f f e c t u a t e l e g i s l a t i v e p u r p o s e

. S e e

L e e M e d

. , I n c

. v

. B e e c h e r , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d 5 1 5

, 5 2 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 1 0 ) ; I n r e E s t a t e o f T a n n e r , 2 9 5

Se e T enn

. Code Ann. § 28- 3- 104( b)( 2) (“ [I ]n pro duc ts li abi li ty cas es

. . . [n] o per son sha ll be 1
dep ri ved of the ri ght to m ai nta in a cau se of act ion unt il one (1) year fr om the dat e of the inj ury.”)

. See al so
T enn

. Code Ann. § 29- 28- 103( a) (20 00) (“ Any act ion agains t a m anu fa ct ure r or sel le r of a pro duc t for inj ury

to per son or pr ope rt y cause d by it s defe ct ive or unr eas ona bly dan gerous con dit ion m ust be bro ught wi thi n the per iod fi xed by § § 28- 3- 104, 28- 3- 105, 28- 3- 202 and 47- 2- 725, but not wit hst and ing any exc ept ion s to
the se pro visio ns, it m

ust be bro ught wi thi n six (6) years of the dat e of inj ury, in any event, the act ion m ust
be br o u gh t w i t h i n te n (10 ) years fr om the dat e on whic h the pro duc t was fi rs t pur cha sed for use or

con sumpti on, or with in one (1) year af te r the exp ir at ion of the ant ic ipa te d lif e of the prod uct , whiche ver is

the sho rt er , ex cep t i n t he c ase of in j ury to m ino rs whos e acti on m ust be brou ght w it hin a pe ri od o f o ne ( 1)

year a ft er at ta ini ng the age of m aj ori ty, whic hever occ urs soo ner .”)S

. W

. 3 d 6 1 0

, 6 1 3 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 9 )

. T h e w o r d s o f t h e s t a t u t e a r e o f p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e a n d m u s t

b e g i v e n t h e i r n a t u r a l a n d o r d i n a r y m e a n i n g i n t h e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h t h e y a p p e a r a n d i n l i g h t

o f t h e s t a t u t e ’ s g e n e r a l p u r p o s e

. S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 6 ; H a y e s v

. G i b s o n
C n t y

. , 2 8 8 S

. W

. 3 d 3 3 4

, 3 3 7 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 9 ) ; W a l d s c h m i d t v

. R e a s s u r e A m

. L i f e I n s

. C o

. , 2 7 1

S

. W

. 3 d 1 7 3

, 1 7 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 8 ) ; S t a t e v

. F l e m m i n g , 1 9 S

. W

. 3 d 1 9 5

, 1 9 7 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 )

. W h e n

a s t a t u t e ’ s t e x t i s c l e a r a n d u n a m b i g u o u s , c o u r t s d o n o t l o o k b e y o n d t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e

s t a t u t e t o a s c e r t a i n i t s m e a n i n g

. S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 7 ; G r e e n v

. G r e e n , 2 9 3

S

. W

. 3 d 4 9 3

, 5 0 7 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 9 )

.

W h e n s t a t u t e s c o n f

l i c t

, e i t h e r i n l a n g u a g e o r a p p l i c a t i o n , c o u r t s s h o u l d c o n s t r u e e a c h

s t a t u t e r e a s o n a b l y , i n a m a n n e r t h a t a v o i d s c o n f l i c t a n d f a c i l i t a t e s t h e h a r m o n i o u s o p e r a t i o n

o f t h e l a w

. S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 7 ; S a l l e e v

. B a r r e t t

, 1 7 1 S

. W

. 3 d 8 2 2

, 8 2 8 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 5 ) ; F r a z i e r v

. E

. T e n n

. B a p t i s t H o s p

. , I n c

. , 5 5 S

. W

. 3 d 9 2 5

, 9 2 8 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 1 )

. A

s p e c i a l s t a t u t e , o r a s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r s t a t u t e , s h o u l d b e c o n s t r u e d t o p r e v a i l

o v e r a g e n e r a l p r o v i s i o n i n a n o t h e r s t a t u t e o r a g e n e r a l p r o v i s i o n i n t h e s a m e s t a t u t e

. S e e
S t a t e v

. D a v i s , 1 7 3 S

. W

. 3 d 4 1 1

, 4 1 5 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 5 ) ; A r n w i n e v

. U n i o n C n t y

. B d

. o f E d u c

. , 1 2 0 S

. W

. 3 d 8 0 4

, 8 0 9 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 3 )

.

I n a p p l y i n g t h e f

o r e g o i n g r u l e s , c o u r t s m a y “ p r e s u m e t h a t t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y d i d

n o t i n t e n d t o e n a c t a u s e l e s s s t a t u t e

. ” S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 7 ; S t a t e v

. J a c k s o n , 6 0 S

. W

. 3 d 7 3 8

, 7 4 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 1 )

. C o u r t s m a y a l s o p r e s u m e t h a t t h e G e n e r a l

A s s e m b l y i s a w a r e o f i t s o w n p r i o r e n a c t m e n t s

. S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 7 ;
C o l o n i a l P i p e l i n e C o

. v

. M o r g a n , 2 6 3 S

. W

. 3 d 8 2 7

, 8 3 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 8 ) ; H i c k s v

. S t a t e , 9 4 5

S

. W

. 2 d 7 0 6

, 7 0 7 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 7 )

. W h e n n e c e s s a r y t o r e s o l v e a s t a t u t o r y a m b i g u i t y o r c o n f l i c t

,

c o u r t s m a y c o n s i d e r m a t t e r s b e y o n d t h e s t a t u t o r y t e x t

, i n c l u d i n g p u b l i c p o l i c y , h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s

r e l e v a n t t o t h e e n a c t m e n t o f t h e s t a t u t e , t h e b a c k g r o u n d a n d p u r p o s e o f t h e s t a t u t e , a n d t h e

e n t i r e s t a t u t o r y s c h e m e

. S e e L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 7

- 2 8

. H o w e v e r , t h e s e

n o n

- c o d i f

i e d e x t e r n a l s o u r c e s “ c a n n o t p r o v i d e a b a s i s f o r d e p a r t i n g f

r o m c l e a r c o d i f

i e d

s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s

. ” L e e M e d

. , I n c

. , 3 1 2 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 2 8 ( c i t i n g S t a t e e x r e l

. M a n n e r v

. L e e c h

, 5 8 8 S

. W

. 2 d 5 3 4

, 5 3 9 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 9 ) )

.

A p p l y i n g t h e f

o r e g o i n g r u l e s , I a m u n a b l e t o a g r e e w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t

P l a i n t i f f M i c h a e l L i n d ’ s s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m a g a i n s t B e a m a n D o d g e , I n c

. , ( “ B e a m a n ” )

, t h e

a u t o m o b i l e d e a l e r s h i p w h e r e h e p u r c h a s e d t h e t r u c k

, d i d n o t a c c r u e u n t i l D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r
C o r p

. ( “ C h r y s l e r ” ) h a d “ b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

. I n m y v i e w , t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s c o n c l u s i o n i s i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p l a i n a n d

u n a m b i g u o u s l a n g u a g e o f a n o t h e r , m o r e s p e c i f i c , s t a t u t e d e c l a r i n g : “ [ I ] n p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y

c a s e s

. . . [ t ] h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n f o r i n j u r y t o t h e p e r s o n s h a l l a c c r u e o n t h e d a t e o f t h e

p e r s o n a l i n

j u r y , n o t t h e d a t e o f t h e n e g l i g e n c e o r t h e s a l e o f a p r o d u c t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 3

- 1 0 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. T h i s s t a t u t e l e a v e s n o r o o m f o r d o u b t t h a t t h e P l a i n t i f f ’ s

c a u s e o f a c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g h i s c l a i m b a s e d o n a t h e o r y o f s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y , a c c r u e d o n M a r c h

-2-2 8

, 2 0 0 6

, t h e d a t e h e s u f f e r e d p e r s o n a l i n

j u r i e s f r o m h i s t r u c k a l l e g e d l y s e l f

- s h i f t i n g i n t o

r e v e r s e

. W h i l e I p a r t c o m p a n y w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y a s t o w h e n P l a i n t i f f ’ s c a u s e o f a c t i o n

a c c r u e d

, I a g r e e , f

o r t h e r e a s o n s s t a t e d b e l o w , t h a t P l a i n t i f f ’ s s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m a g a i n s t

B e a m a n i s n o t t i m e

- b a r r e d

.

T h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y h a s p r o v i d e d n o n

- m a n u f a c t u r i n g s e l l e r s , l i k e B e a m a n , w i t h

a n e x e m p t i o n f

r o m p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n s b a s e d o n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y , a n d t h i s e x e m p t i o n

a p p l i e s e x c e

p t i n c e r t a i n l i m i t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. O n e e x c e p t i o n t o t h e e x e m p t i o n f r o m
l i a b i l i t y i s w h e n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r “ h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

. B y a d o p t i n g t h i s “ ‘ i n s o l v e n c y ’ e x c e p t i o n , ” t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y i n t e n d e d

“ t o i n s u r e t h a t a n i n

j u r e d c o n s u m e r c a n l o o k t o t h e s e l l e r i f h e c a n n o t c o l l e c t a j u d g m e n t f r o m

t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r

. ” S e a l s v

. S e a r s , R o e b u c k & C o

. , 6 8 8 F

. S u p p

. 1 2 5 2

, 1 2 5 4 ( E

. D

. T e n n

. 1 9 8 8 ) ( d i s c u s s i n g l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y o f t h e e x c e p t i o n ) ; s e e a l s o B r a s w e l l v

. A C & S

, I n c

. , 1 0 5

S

. W

. 3 d 5 8 7

, 5 8 9 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 2 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t t h e i n s o l v e n c y e x c e p t i o n w a s d e s i g n e d

“ t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i n

j u r e d c o n s u m e r c o u l d m a i n t a i n a s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n a g a i n s t w h o m e v e r

w a s m o s t l i k e l y t o c o m p e n s a t e [ t h e i n j u r e d c o n s u m e r ] f

o r h i s o r h e r i n

j u r i e s ” )

.

I n o r d e r b o t h t o f

u l f i l l t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p u r p o s e a n d i n t e n t o f t h e i n s o l v e n c y e x c e p t i o n

a n d t o a v o i d a c o n f

l i c t w i t h t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 8

- 3

- 1 0 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) d e f

i n i n g a c c r u a l a s t h e d a t e o f t h e p e r s o n a l i n j u r y , I w o u l d h o l d t h a t

, a s t o

P l a i n t i f f ’ s s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m a g a i n s t B e a m a n , t h e o n e

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s w a s t o l l e d

u n t i l C h r y s l e r h a d “ b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

. 2

W h i l e n o T e n n e s s e e c o u r t h a s d i s c u s s e d t h i s i s s u e , t o l l i n g t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s t o

e f f e c t u a t e a l e g i s l a t i v e i n s o l v e n c y e x c e p t i o n i s t h e a p p r o a c h r e c o m m e n d e d i n t h e P r o d u c t s

L i a b i l i t y R e s t a t e m e n t

, a n d t h i s a p p r o a c h h a s b e e n a d o p t e d i n a t l e a s t o n e o t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n

. 3 4

T o l l i n g i s a c o n c e p t f

a m i l i a r t o T e n n e s s e e l a w , a n d i n f a c t

, t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y h a s

e x p r e s s l y a p p r o v e d t o l l i n g t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s i f

, a t t h e t i m e t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n a c c r u e d

, t h e p e r s o n e n t i t l e d t o c o m m e n c e t h e a c t i o n w a s u n a b l e t o d o s o b e c a u s e o f a g e o r u n s o u n d

As the m aj ori ty re cognizes , the part ie s do not dis put e that Chr ysler has bee n “j udi ci al ly dec la re d 2

ins olvent ”; th us, int er

pre ti ng t he for egoing st at uto ry la nguage is not nec ess ar y t o re sol ve t his app eal . But

see Sea ls

, 688 F. Supp . at 1254- 59 (di scu ssi ng and int er pre ti ng the phr ase “j udi ci al ly dec la re d ins olvent ”)

.

See Rest at ement (T hir d) of T ort s: Pro duc ts Lia b i l i ty § 1 cmt. e (19 98) (di scu ssi ng the int er pla y 3

bet ween the st at ute of li m it at ion s and the ins olvenc y exc ept ion and st at ing tha t “[ o]n e pos si ble sol uti on cou ld

be to tol l the st at ute of li m it at ion s agains t nonmanuf act ure rs so tha t the y m ay be bro ught in if nec ess ar y”).

T his Cour t has pre viousl y l ooked to the Rest at ement T hir d for guidan ce as to tor t la w in T enn ess ee. See

, e.g., Me rc er

v. Va nde rbi lt Uni v., I nc., 134 S.W .3d 1 21, 1 29 ( T enn . 200 4).

See Cre go v. Bal dwin

- Lima- Ham il ton Corp

., No. 1651 5, 1998 WL 8024 0, at *5- 6 (Ohi o Ct. App. 4

Feb. 27, 1998 ).

-3-m i n d

. S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ( 2 0 0 0 )

. F i n a l l y , t o l l i n g t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s 5

i s n o t c o n t r a r y t o B r a s w e l l

, i n w h i c h t h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s s t a t e d : “ t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y
i n t e n d e d t h e l i m i t a t i o n p e r i o d a g a i n s t t h e s e l l e r w o u l d b e g i n t o r u n a t t h e t i m e t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r w a s a d

j u d i c a t e d b a n k r u p t

. ” B r a s w e l l

, 1 0 5 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 9 0

. T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s

c o r r e c t

, u n d e r e i t h e r t h e t o l l i n g a p p r o a c h I w o u l d a p p l y o r t h e a c c r u a l a p p r o a c h t h e m a j o r i t y

a d o p t s

. T h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s i n B r a s w e l l s i m p l y d i d n o t e l a b o r a t e u p o n t h e b a s i s f o r i t s 6

c o n c l u s i o n

.

A p p l y i n g t h e t o l l i n g a p p r o a c h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s a p p e a l p r o d u c e s t h e f o l l o w i n g

c o n c l u s i o n s

. P l a i n t i f

f ’ s p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n a c c r u e d o n M a r c h 2 8

, 2 0 0 6

, t h e d a t e h e

s u f f e r e d p e r s o n a l i n

j u r i e s f r o m h i s t r u c k a l l e g e d l y s e l f

- s h i f t i n g i n t o r e v e r s e

. T h e o n e

- y e a r

s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s b e g a n t o r u n w h e n t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n a c c r u e d

. N o n e t h e l e s s , w i t h

r e s p e c t t o P l a i n t i f

f ’ s s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m a g a i n s t B e a m a n , t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s w a s t o l l e d

u n t i l C h r y s l e r h a d b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. T h u s , P l a i n t i f f ’ s 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t

, f

i l e d

l e s s t h a n f

o u r m o n t h s a f

t e r C h r y s l e r f

i l e d f o r b a n k r u p t c y , i s n o t t i m e

- b a r r e d

. B e c a u s e t h e 7

o n e

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s w a s t o l l e d

, t h e s a v i n g s s t a t u t e , s e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5 ( a ) ( 2 0 0 0 )

, h a s n o b e a r i n g o n t h e t i m e l i n e s s o f P l a i n t i f f ’ s 2 0 0 9 s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m 8

a g a i n s t B e a m a n

.

Sec ti on 2 8- 1- 106 st at es: 5

I f the per son ent it le d to comm enc e an act ion is

, a t t h e ti m e the cau se of act ion

acc rue d, ei the r unde r the age of ei ghteen (18 ) years , or of uns ound m ind

, suc h per son , o r

suc h per son ’s re pre sen ta ti ves and p r ivies

, as the cas e m ay be, m ay comm enc e the act ion

, af te r the re m oval of suc h dis abi li ty, wit hin the ti m e of li m it at ion for the par ti cul ar cau se of

act ion

, unl ess it exc eed s thr ee (3) yea rs , and in tha t cas e wit hin thr ee (3) years fr om the

re m oval of

suc h di sab il it y.

At l e a s t one comm ent at or has cha ra ct er ized Bra swel l as ado pti ng the tol li ng app roa ch 6

re comm end ed in the Pro duc ts Lia bil i ty Rest at ement, whic h I woul d app ly. See David G. Owen, Spec ia l

D e f e n s es in Mo der n Pro duc ts Lia bil it y Law, 70 Mo

. L. Rev. 1, 35 n.16 4 (20 05) (de scr ibi ng Bra s w e l l a s hol din g tha t a “s t a t u t e whic h pre cl ude d st ri ct li abi li ty in tor t cl ai m agains t sel le r unl ess m anu fa ct ure r is

ins olvent to ll ed s ta tut e of li m it at ion s un ti l manuf

act ure r f il ed f or ban krupt cy”).

Even wher e the st at ute of li m it at ion s is tol le d unti l the m anu fa ct ure r has bee n j udi ci al ly dec la re d 7

ins olvent

, the st at ute s of re pos e pro vided in T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed sec ti on 29- 28- 103 con ti nue to app ly

and m ay sti ll bar th e c aus e of ac ti on.

T he s avings st at ute pr ovides in re le vant pa rt : 8

I f the act ion is comm enc ed wit hin the ti m e li m it ed by a rul e or st at ute of li m it at ion

, but the j udgm ent or dec re e is re nde re d agains t the pla int if f upon any ground not con cl udi ng the pla int if

f’ s ri ght of act ion

, . . . the pla int if f

. . . m ay, fr om ti m e to ti m e, comm enc e a new

act ion wit hin one (1 ) year af te r t he r evers al or ar re st

.

-4-A s t h e m a j o r i t y r e c o g n i z e s , h o w e v e r , t h e s a v i n g s s t a t u t e i s r e l e v a n t t o t h e n e g l i g e n c e

b a s e d c l a i m P l a i n t i f

f a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t B e a m a n i n c o u n t t w o o f h i s 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t

. W h i l e

n o n

- m a n u f

a c t u r i n g s e l l e r s a r e p r o v i d e d a b r o a d s t a t u t o r y e x e m p t i o n f r o m s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y

c l a i m s , s u c h s e l l e r s a r e p r o v i d e d a m o r e n a r r o w s t a t u t o r y e x e m p t i o n f r o m l i a b i l i t y f

o r

n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m s

. T h i s e x e m p t i o n i s a p p l i c a b l e o n l y “ w h e n t h e p r o d u c t i s a c q u i r e d

a n d s o l d b y t h e s e l l e r

. . . u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h t h e s e l l e r i s a f f o r d e d n o r e a s o n a b l e

o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n s u c h a m a n n e r w h i c h w o u l d o r s h o u l d

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e

o f r e a s o n a b l e c a r e , r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

. A s w i t h s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y , a n i n s o l v e n c y e x c e p t i o n t o t h e f o r e g o i n g e x e m p t i o n

a l l o w s f o r i m p o s i t i o n o f l i a b i l i t y f o r n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m s u p o n a n o n

- m a n u f a c t u r i n g

s e l l e r t h a t h a d n o r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n “ [ a ] c t i o n s w h e r e t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ( 3 )

.

A s t h e m a

j o r i t y c o r r e c t l y p o i n t s o u t

, h o w e v e r , t h e e x e m p t i o n f r o m l i a b i l i t y p r o v i d e d

i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a ) h a s n e v e r a p p l i e d t o P l a i n t i f f ’ s

n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m a g a i n s t B e a m a n

. I n o t h e r w o r d s , B e a m a n h a d a r e a s o n a b l e

o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e t r u c k i t s o l d P l a i n t i f f a n d w a s n e v e r e x e m p t f r o m l i a b i l i t y f

o r a

n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m

. T h u s , a s t o t h e n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m a s s e r t e d i n c o u n t 2 o f

P l a i n t i f f ’ s 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t

, t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s w a s n o t t o l l e d u n t i l C h r y s l e r h a d b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. T h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n a c c r u e d o n M a r c h 2 8

, 2 0 0 6

. P l a i n t i f f

t i m e l y f i l e d a l a w s u i t o n M a r c h 1 9

, 2 0 0 7

, a s s e r t i n g h i s n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m a g a i n s t

B e a m a n , b u t P l a i n t i f

f f a i l e d t o f i l e a n e w a c t i o n w i t h i n o n e y e a r o f t h e D e c e m b e r 2 1

, 2 0 0 7

v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t

, a s t h e s a v i n g s s t a t u t e r e q u i r e d

. S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5 ( a )

. T h u s , I a g r e e w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y t h a t P l a i n t i f

f ’ s n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m a g a i n s t B e a m a n i s

t i m e

- b a r r e d

.

I a m a u t h o r i z e d t o s t a t e t h a t J u s t i c e K o c h c o n c u r s i n t h i s o p i n i o n

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C O R N E L I A A

. C L A R K

, C H I E F J U S T I C E

-5-