Source: http://theduncanlawfirm.blogspot.com/2012/
Timestamp: 2019-02-16 22:17:44
Document Index: 141671489

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 29', '§29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 28', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29']

Tony Duncan Law: 2012
Here's a link to an online basic legal citation primer, to wit:
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 12:54 PM No comments: Links to this post
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 6:02 AM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Statutorily Required Presuit Notice Does Not Provide 120-day Extension of One-year Statute of Limitations Against Governmental Entity
The Tennessee Court of Appeals released its opinion yesterday in Lawring v. Green Cnty. EMS, No. E2011-1201-COA-R9-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 17, 2012). The summary of the opinion reads as follows:
In this action the defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the grounds the statute of limitation had run on plaintiff's cause of action. The Trial Court overruled the Motion on the grounds that the tolling provisions in Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(c) was applicable to GTLA actions and granted permission to appeal pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 9. On appeal, we hold that the tolling provision does not apply because the statute did not expressly extend it to GTLA actions.
The issue on appeal was stated on page 3 of the opinion as follows:
Does the medical malpractice pre-suit notice requirement contained in Tennessee Code Annotated §29-26-121(a) operate to toll the one year statute of limitations for bringing suit against a governmental entity under the GTLA?
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/lawingbopn.pdf
This opinion, which was issued by the Eastern Section Court of Appeals, is in direct contradiction to the opinion released by the Middle Section Court of Appeals in Cunningham ex rel. Cunningham v. Williamson Cnty. Hosp. Dist., which was the subject of my December 1, 2011 post, to wit:
http://theduncanlawfirm.blogspot.com/2011/12/medical-malpractice-statutorily.html
The Tennessee Supreme Court granted permission to appeal in Cunningham on April 16, 2012. It was argued on October 3, 2012. To state the obvious, the decision in that case will affect the outcome of this case.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:29 AM No comments: Links to this post
This post is a lot like a public service announcement. To any and all persons out there who own and drive a care, please contact your insurance agent and make sure you have uninsured/underinsured ("UM/UIM") coverage. And if you are in Tennessee, get no less that fifty thousand in coverage (of course the more coverage you have, the better).
Making sure you have enough UM/UIM coverage might be the best decision you ever make. This is because UM/UIM might be the only source of a monetary recovery you will have if a person hits you who doesn't have liability insurance (an uninsured situation); and it might provide additional monies as further compensation if the person who hits you doesn't have enough coverage (an underinsured situation).
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:48 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Tony Duncan Named a 2012 Mid-South Super Lawyer
I want to begin by saying that I am sorry for not posting anything in a while. I have been busy (like all of us); I've got two jury trials coming up in December that have been taking up a lot of my time.
Anyway, I did want to post that I have been selected to as a 2012 Mid-South Super Lawyer again, which is a great honor; I am truly humbled. Below is a link to the digital edition to Mid-South Super Lawyers (2012). I am on Page 33.
http://digital.superlawyers.com/superlawyers/midsouth2012?pg=33#pg1
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 3:11 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Please read the information from the CDC at this link:
If you have any questions about this issue, please, do not hesitate to call my law firm to discuss.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, just issued its opinion in Holley ex rel. Holley v. Blackett, No. W2011-02115-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 10, 2012). The summary from the opinion states as follows:
This appeal involves an attempt to substitute parties after the original plaintiff in this wrongful death case died. The trial court struck the motion to substitute parties and dismissed the case. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/holleyericopn.pdf
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 3:21 AM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice & Concurrent Common-law Negligence Claims
The Middle Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals recently issued its opinion Parker v. Portland Nursing & Nursing Rehab., No. M2011-02633-COA-R9-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 30, 2012). The summary of the opinion states as follows:
In this action, the plaintiff has attempted to assert claims for ordinary negligence and medical malpractice against nursing home defendants by filing two separate actions and then seeking to consolidate the cases or to amend the complaint to assert both types of claims in one case. The first complaint filed only asserted claims for ordinary negligence against the nursing home defendants. Sixty days after having given the statutory notice to the healthcare providers of her intent to file medical malpractice claims, the plaintiff commenced a separate action against the same nursing home defendants and an additional defendant, a physician who treated the nursing home patient, by filing a complaint for medical malpractice. Upon motions of the nursing home defendants, the trial court refused to consolidate the cases, dismissed the medical malpractice claims against the nursing home defendants upon the ground of a prior suit pending, and denied the plaintiff’s motion to amend the complaint in the first case to add claims for medical malpractice against the nursing home defendants. Having determined that the plaintiff complied with Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-26-121(a) by giving the requisite 60 days notice to the medical providers and that the statute of limitations had not run, we have concluded that the trial court erred in denying the plaintiff’s Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 15.01 motion to amend the complaint. Accordingly, we reverse and remand with instructions to grant the plaintiff’s motion to amend the complaint for ordinary negligence against the nursing home defendants thus allowing the plaintiff to assert medical malpractice claims against the nursing home defendants and for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/dobbswandaopn.pdf
Caveat: As noted in Footnote 4, this opinion only affects claims that accrued before October 1, 2011, which was the effective date of the Tennessee Civil Justice Act of 2011 (which is the furthest thing from justice one could imagine, in my humble opinion). See T.C.A. § 29-26-101(c) (Westlaw 2012) (making all "health care liability actions" subject to Tennessee's Medical Malpractice Act). A "health care liability action" is any civil action filed against a "health care provider" who provides "health care services." Id.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 7:24 AM No comments: Links to this post
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 7:31 PM No comments: Links to this post
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Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 6:19 PM No comments: Links to this post
Please pray for the people affected by the senseless act in Aurora, Colorado. Keep them in your thoughts, too.
Below is the list I bring with me when I go to the library. It's a work-in-progress, and by no means perfect, but it's what I use. (The numbering for the print resources is, of course, per the L.C.C., to wit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress_Classification.)
I. Statutory Materials
Acts of the State of Tennessee passed by the General Assembly, KFT 25 .A23; Microfiche 266
West’s Tennessee Code Annotated, KFT 30 2001 .A44
West's Tennessee Code Annotated. Constitution volume, KFT 30 2001 .A44 vol. 1
Hein’s Superseded State Statutes and Codes, Microfiche 3093 (1831 -present)
Michie’s Tennessee Code & Constitution (powered by Lexis)
Tennessee Constitution (TNCNST)
Tennessee Code Annotated (CODE)
Tennessee Advance Legislative Service (TNALS)
West's Tennessee Statutes - Annotated (TN-ST-ANN)
Tennessee Statutes (West's) - Unannotated (TN-ST)
Tennessee Statutes - Annotated (TN-STANN01 - TN-STANNO8; TN-STMANN86 - TN-STMANN07) (1986 - present)
Tennessee. General Assembly. House. Journal, KFT 18 .T2 yr.c
Tennessee. General Assembly. Senate. Journal, KFT 18 .T2 yr.b
Additional digitized volumes of the legislative journals may be available through the following sources:
Tennessee Full-Text Bills (TNTEXT)
Tennessee Bill Tracking Reports (TNTRCK)
Tennessee Legislative Bill History (TNLH) (1999 - present)
Tennessee Legislative Service (TN-LEGIS)
Tennessee Bill Tracking - Summaries & Full Text Combined (TN-BILLS)
Tennessee Bill Tracking (TN-BILLTRK)
Tennessee Bill Tracking - Full Text (TN-BILLTXT)
Tennessee Bill Archives (TN-BILLS-OLD)
Tennessee Legislative History (TN-LH)
Tennessee Historical Legislative Service (TN-LEGIS-OLD) (1990 - present)
III. Administrative Regulations & Materials
Official Compilation Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee, KFT 35 1975 .A22
Tennessee Administrative Register, KFT 36 .T4
The Tennessee Administrative Register (T.A.R.)
Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee (TNADMN)
Tennessee Administrative Register (TNRGST) (1999 - present)
Tennessee Bulletins & Notices (TNBLTN) (1983 - present)
Tennessee State Net Regulatory Text (TNRTXT) (1999 - present)
Tennessee State Regulation Tracking (TNRGTR) (recent two years)
Tennessee Administrative Code (TN-ADC)
Tennessee Administrative Code (TN-ADCO02 - TN-ADCO08)
Tennessee Regulation Tracking (TN-REGTRK)
Tennessee Regulation Tracking - Full Text (TN-REGTXT)
Tennessee Administrative Hearing Procedure Rules (TNWC-ADCAH)
IV. Administrative Decisions
Opinions of the Attorney General of Tennessee, KFT 440 .A556
Attorney General Opinions (2000 – present)
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions (TNAG) (1977 - present)
Tennessee Regulatory Utility Commission Decisions (TNPUC) (1996 - present)
Tennessee Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel (TNSWCA) (1992 - present)
Environmental Law Administrative Decisions (TNENV-ADMIN)
Public Utilities Reports (TN-PUR)
Tennessee Workers' Compensation Administrative Code (TNWC-ADC)
Tennessee Administraive Hearing Procedure Rules (TNWC-ADCAH)
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions (TN-AG)
V. State Cases & Judicial Materials
West’s South Western Reporter (S.W., S.W.2d, S.W.3d), KF 135 .S7
Tennessee Appeals Reports, KFT 48 .A2
Tennessee Criminal Appeals Reports, KFT 49 .C7 1969
Tennessee Reports, KFT 45 .A2
West’s Tennessee Digest 2d, KFT 57 .T4 1986
Supreme Court (1995 – present)
Court of Appeals (1995 – present)
Court of Criminal Appeals (1995 – present)
Tennessee Supreme Court Cases (TENN) (1791 - present)
Tennessee Court of Appeals Cases (APP) (1925 - present)
Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Cases (1967 - present)
Tennessee Chancery Appeals Cases (CHAPP) (1895 - 1901)
State Courts (TN-CS) (Superior Court of the Territory South of the River Ohio: 1791 - 1796; Superior Court of Law and Equity: 1799 - 1809; Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals: 1811 - 1835; Supreme Court: 1835 - present; Court of Appeals: 1925 - present; Court of Criminal Appeals: 1967 - present; Court of Chancery Appeals: 1895 - 1901)
Tennessee Supreme Court Briefs (TN-SCT-BRIEF) (select coverage 2003 - present)
Tennessee Court of Appeals Briefs (TN-APP-BRIEF) (select coverage 2003 - present)
VI. Court Rules (State)
Tennessee Rules of Court: Local, KFT 529 .A197 Local
Tennessee Rules of Court: State, KFT 529 .A197 State
TN - Tennessee State & Federal Court Rules (TNRULE)
Tennessee Court Rules (TN-RULES)
Tennessee Rules Update Orders (TN-RULESUPDATES)
Criminal Justice - Tennessee Court Rules (TNCJ-RULES)
VII. Jury Instructions (State)
Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions. Civil, KFT 80 .T4 1967 v. 8
Tennessee Jury Instructions: Criminal Cases, KFT 583 .S45
Pattern Jury Instructions (Not official ones)
Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions (Not official ones)
Tennessee Civil Jury Instructions - TBD
Tennessee Criminal Jury Instructions - TBD
Tennessee Practice Series Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions - Civil (TINPRACJIC)
Tennessee Practice Series Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions - Criminal (TNPRACJICR)
Tennessee Civil Jury Instruction Filings (TN-JIF-CIV)
Tennessee Jury Verdicts Combined (TN-JV)
Jury Verdict and Settlement Summaries - Tennessee (LRPTN-JV)
VIII. Forms (State)
Tennessee Divorce, Alimony & Child Custody with Forms, KFT 80 .T4 1967 vol. 19
Legal Forms, KFT 80 .T4 1967 vols. 12 - 15
Civil Procedure Forms, KFT 80 .T4 1967 vols. 5 - 6
http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/node/431 (Tennessee state trial court forms)
All TN LexisNexis Forms (LFTNAL)
Tennessee Forms for Business Transactions (TNFBUS)
Tennessee Forms for Civil Litigation (TNFCIV)
Tennessee Forms for Criminal Law (TNFCRM)
Tennessee Forms for Estate Practice (TNFEST)
Tennessee Forms for Real Estate (TNFRE)
Tennessee Form Finder (TN-FORMFINDER)
Tennessee Forms (TN-FORMS)
Tennessee Practice Series Civil Procedure Forms (TNPRAC-CPF)
Tennessee Practice Series Legal Forms (TNPRAC-LF)
IX. Federal Cases & Judicial Materials
U.S. Reports (U.S.), KF 101 .U2
Supreme Court Reporter (S.Ct.), KF 101 .S9
United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyer’s Edition (L.Ed., L.Ed.2d), KF 101 .U58
Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d), KF 105 .F4
Federal Supplement (F.Supp., F.Supp.2d), KF 120 .F4
Federal Rules Decisions (F.R.D.), KF 120 .F45
West’s Bankruptcy Reporter (B.R.), KF 1515 .A2 W47
West's Federal Practice Digest, KF 127 .F4
West’s Bankruptcy Digest, KF 1515.3 .W475
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1999 – present published; 2004 – present unpublished)
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (PACER subscription)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (by Judge)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee (ECF Database)
LexisNexis (Federal Cases)
U.S. Supreme Court Briefs (BRIEFS) (1936 - present)
U.S. Supreme Court Cases, Lawyers' Edition (USLED) (1790 - present)
United States Court of Federal Claims, Claims Court & Court of Claims Cases (1856 - present)
Federal Circuit - U.S. Court of Appeals Cases (CAFC) (1982 - present)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Cases (BANKR) (1979 - present)
Federal Civil Procedure Cases (FEDCIV) (varies by court)
Local Federal Case
Sixth Circuit - U.S. Court of Appeals Cases (6CIR) (1912 - present)
TN Federal District Courts (TNDIST) (1832 - present)
Westlaw (Federal Cases)
All U.S. Supreme Court Cases (SCT) (1790 - present)
U.S. Supreme Court Briefs Multibase (SCT-BRIEF-ALL) (1870 - present)
U.S. Court of Appeals Cases (CTA) (1891 - present)
U.S. Court of Appeals Briefs (CTA-BRIEF) (1972 - present)
Federal Rules Decisions Cases (FRD-CS) (1938 - present)
U.S. Court of Federal Claims Cases (FEDCL) (1945 - present)
U.S. Court of Claims - Before 1945 (FEDCL-OLD) (1856 - 1944)
Local Federal Cases
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Cases (CTA6) (1945 - present)
Federal Bankruptcy Cases - Sixth Circuit States (FBKR-CS6) (1797 - present)
U.S. District Court Cases for Tennessee (DCTTN) (1945 - present)
U.S. District Court Cases for Tennessee - Before 1945 (DCTTN-OLD) (1807 - 1944)
X. Court Rules (Federal)
Federal Civil Judicial Procedure and Rules, KF 8816 .A193 [year] Reserve
Federal Criminal Code and Rules, KF 9607.523 .A19 F4 [year] Reserve
Federal Local Court Rules 3d, KF 8820 .A2 2001 Reserve
Local Rules of the Bankruptcy Courts. Sixth Circuit, KF 1527 .A4 6th
Tennessee Rules of Court: Federal, KFT 529 .A197 Federal
U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit
USCS - Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP)
USCS - Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (FRCRP)
USCS - Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE)
USCS - Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (FRAP)
USCS - Bankruptcy Rules and Official Bankruptcy Forms (BKRULE)
USCS - Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States (SUPRUL)
LocSixth Circuit - USCS - Court of Appeals Rules (6CRUL)
Federal Rules (US-RULES)
KeyRules - Tennessee - U.S. District Court (KEYRULES-TN-DCT)
XI. Jury Instructions (Federal)
Sixth Circuit Manual of Model Jury Instructions — Civil, KF 8884 .M27 2005 Reserve
Sixth Circuit Manual of Model Jury Instructions — Criminal, KF 9682 .A65 U58 2007 Reserve
Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal Cases, KF 9682 .A65 U61
Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil Cases, KF 8984 .A65 U61 Reserve
Federal Jury Practice and Instructions 6th [Jury Trial], KF 8984 .M3 2006
Federal Jury Practice and Instructions 5th [Civil and Criminal], KF 8984 .M3 2000
Modern Federal Jury Instructions - Civil (MOFCIV)
Modern Federal Jury Instructions - Criminal (MOFEJI)
USCS Federal Sentencing Guidelines (GLINE)
Federal Jury Practice and Instructions - Civil (FED-JICIV)
Federal Jury Practice and Instructions - Criminal (FED-JICRIM)
Federal Criminal Justice - Federal Sentencing Guidelines (FCJ-FSG)
XII. Forms (Federal)
Federal Local Court Forms 3d, KF 8836 .H58 2002 Reserve
Am.Jur. Pleading and Practice Forms, KF 8836 .A45 1967
Bender's Federal Practice Forms, KF 8836 .B45
Federal Procedural Forms, L.Ed., KF 8836 .F4
West's Federal Forms, KF 8836 .W4 1969
Complete Manual of Criminal Forms, KF 9616 .B3 1993
Bender's Federal Practice Forms (FDPRAC)
West's Federal Forms (FEDFORMS) (Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy
Court, Admirality Court, National Court & Tax Court)
Federal Procedural Forms (FEDPROF)
XIII. State Government Resources
Tennessee Frequently Used Forms
Sourcebook Tennessee State Agencies (SB-TN-AGENCY)
XIV. Local Government Resources
XV. Ethics
Tennessee Judicial Ethics Committee Opinions (TNJETH) (1997 - present)
National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsiblity - TN Opinions (1992 - present)
Ethics Opinions (Board of Professional Responsibility (TNETH-EO)
XVI. Practice Materials
Tennessee Jurisprudence: an Encyclopedia of Tennessee Law, KFT 65 .T46 1982
Tennessee Legal Research, KFT 75 .M37 2007
Tennessee Practice, KFT 80 .T4 1967
Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education & Specialization
TennBarU (CLE from the Tennessee Bar Association)
XVII. Bar Associations & Law Schools
The Tennessee Bar Journal [KF 200 .T4]
Journal of Copyright, Entertainment and Sports Law [KF 200 .J612]
The Tennessee Journal of Practice & Procedure [The University of Iowa Libraries InfoLink]
University of Memphis Law Review [K 13 .E572]
Tennessee Law Review [K 24 .E663]
The Alyne Queener Massey Law Library
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law [K 26 .A54]
Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law [JX 1 .V36]
Vanderbilt Law Review [K 26 .A627]
Tennessee Bar Journal (TNBARJ) (2002 - present)
Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy (TNJOLP) (2004 - present)
The Tennessee Journal of Practice & Procedure (TNJPP) (1997 - present)
Tennessee Law Review (TENLR) (1970 - present)
Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law (TRTJBL) (1999 - present)
University of Memphis Law Review (MSULR) (1994 - present)
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law (VJELP) (1999 - present)
Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law (VJTL) (1994 - present)
Vanderbilt Law Review (VANDLR) (1982 - present)
Tennessee Bar Journal (TNBJ) (1983 - present)
Tennessee Law Review (TNLR) (select coverage 1983 - 1992; full coverage 1993 - present)
Transactions: Tennessee Journal of Business Law (TTNJBL) (1999 - present)
University of Memphis Law Review (UMPSLR) (1983 - present)
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law (VNJETL) (1999 - present)
Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law (VNJTL) (select coverage 1983 - 1993; full coverage 1993 - present)
Vanderbilt Law Review (VNLR) (select coverage 1981 - 1984; full coverage 1984 - present)
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:25 AM No comments: Links to this post
Comparative Fault: New Tennessee Supreme Court Case on Tenn. Code Ann. sec. 20-1-119
The Tennessee Supreme Court just issued its opinion in Mann v. Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, No. W2010-02316-SC-R11-CV (Tenn. July 3, 2012). The summary of the Court's opinion is a s follows:
We accepted this appeal of a personal injury action to determine whether the dismissal of a defendant pursuant to a written order not made final under Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 54.02 renders that defendant “not a party to the suit” for purposes of Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-1-119. We answer this question in the affirmative. Because the Court of Appeals upheld the judgment of the trial court dismissing the appellees from the Manns’ second amended complaint as time-barred, we reverse the Court of Appeals and remand to the trial court for further proceedings.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/mannd_opn.pdf
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 6:56 PM No comments: Links to this post
Please watch this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyttEu_NLU.
Have a great and happy Fourth of July, folks!
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:20 AM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Saving Statute NOT Extended by Presuit Notice Letters
Yesterday, the Western Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals held that Tennessee's saving statute is not extend by presuit notice letters in medical malpractice cases. The opinion is Johnson v. Floyd, No. W2012-00207-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jun. 29, 2012). The syllabus of the opinion states as follows:
This case concerns the application of the medical malpractice notice requirement to a lawsuit that was previously nonsuited and then re-filed pursuant to the saving statute. The children of a woman who died due to alleged medical negligence filed suit against the defendant medical providers. The children subsequently nonsuited the lawsuit. Within one-year of the nonsuit, the children sent notice of a potential claim to the medical providers. Within one year and 120 days from the nonsuit, the children re-filed their claim. The medical providers moved to dismiss on the ground that the claim was not filed within the one-year period provided by the saving statute and, as such, was barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The trial court dismissed the action and the children appealed. Concluding that the saving statute, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 28-1-105(a) is not an “applicable statute[] of limitations or repose,” we hold that the saving statute is not extended by compliance with the medical malpractice notice requirement, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 29-26-121(c). Affirmed and remanded.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/johnsondopn.pdf
This opinion is in direct conflict with one issued by the Middle Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals in Rajvongs v. Wright, No. 2011- 01889-COA-R9-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jun. 18, 2012), which held that presuit notice letters did extend the saving statute. (Rajvong was the subject of my June 21 post, which can be viewed at this link: Tony Duncan Law: Medical Malpractice: Saving Statute Extended by Notice Letters.)
UPDATE: Please see my Feb. 6, 2014 post where the Court of Appeals issued a new opinion in this case upon mandate from the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:26 AM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Defense Verdict Reversed on Appeal Due to Errors in Trial Court Below
The other day, the Tennessee Court of Appeals for the Eastern Section released its opinion in Mayo v. Shine, No. E2011-01745-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jun. 25, 2012). The opinion is a must-read for all trial lawyers who practice in the area of medical malpractice (plaintiff or defense) because it discusses topics such as opening statements, cross-examining of a defendant, and trial judge conduct. The summary of the opinion reads as follows:
Zona Mayo (“Plaintiff”) sued Donna L. Shine, M.D., Fort Sanders Obstetrical and Gynecological Group, P.C., and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center (“the Hospital”) alleging medical malpractice in connection with Plaintiff’s birth. After a jury trial, the Trial Court entered judgment on the jury’s verdict finding and holding that neither Dr. Shine nor the Hospital were legally responsible for any harm suffered by Plaintiff. Plaintiff appeals raising issues regarding alleged jury misconduct and alleged errors with regard to admission of evidence, among other things. We find and hold that Plaintiff is entitled to a new trial due to errors in the admission of specific evidence and the improper limitation of Plaintiff’s cross-examination of Dr. Shine, among other things. We vacate the Trial Court’s judgment and remand this case to the Trial Court for a new trial in compliance with this Opinion.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/mayozopn.pdf
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 5:23 AM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Saving Statute Extended by Presuit Notice Letters
This week, the Tennessee Court of Appeals (Middle Section) issued an opinion holding that Tennessee's saving statute was extended by the statutorily required notice letters to healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases. The case is Rajvongs v. Wright, No. M2011-01889-COA-R9-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jun. 18, 2012). The summary from the slip opinion reads as follows:
A patient who alleged that he had been negligently injured by his podiatrist filed a complaint against him for malpractice, and then voluntary dismissed the complaint without prejudice. Less than a year later, he furnished the defendant podiatrist with the sixty day notice of potential claim required by a recently enacted statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121(a). He subsequently refiled his complaint in reliance on his rights under the saving statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-105. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the complaint was time-barred under the saving statute because it was filed more than one year after the dismissal of the original complaint. The plaintiff contended, however, that he was entitled to the benefit of Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121(c), which extends the statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims by 120 days if the plaintiff has complied with the sixty day notice requirement. The defendant responded by arguing that Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121(c) does not apply to complaints filed under the saving statute. The trial court dismissed the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, but allowed him to file an application for interlocutory appeal because of the novelty of the legal question involved. After careful consideration of the relevant statutes, we hold that Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121(c) does apply to the saving statute, and we affirm.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/rajvongsh.opn_.pdf
This is a good case for patients and people in general in Tennessee. Our state has a policy of resolving cases on the merits and not on procedural technicalities, which is only fair. It's nice to see a trial court and an appellate court step up and do the right thing for the people of Tennessee.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 7:06 PM No comments: Links to this post
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 12:49 PM No comments: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Jury Verdict Upheld on Appeal
The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently released its opinion in Gaw v. The Vanderbilt University, No. M2011-00306-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 19, 2012). Here's the summary from the slip opinion, to wit:
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/gawmichaelopn.pdf
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 12:02 PM No comments: Links to this post
This is a re-post from a year ago (Apr. 5, 2011). It is good to remind ourselves of what an "injury" is for purposes of medical negligence or malpractice lawsuits.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 4:40 AM No comments: Links to this post
Here's a link to an expert witness research firm's Web site, to wit:
I got this link from the following blog:
http://www.dayontorts.com/expert-witnesses-new-expert-witness-background-search-service.html
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 4:06 AM No comments: Links to this post
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 3:07 AM No comments: Links to this post
This month marks the sixth anniversary of this blog. It's hard to believe that six years have gone by so quickly. Wow!
I want to take this opportunity to thank my readers for, of course, reading this blog; and for their nice comments and e-mails over the years. It is appreciated.
I also want to look back at 2011, which was a good year. I was honored (and humbled) to have been selected to be a Mid-South Super Lawyer (which is a very prestigious honor) and a member in the invitation-only group known as The National Trial Lawyers.
Thanks, again, to the readers of this blog. You make doing this very rewarding and fun for a boy from East Tennessee who likes to keep his nose in a book and go to court to help people out.
Posted by Tony Duncan (615) 620-4471 at 4:56 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Medical Malpractice: Verdict for Plaintiffs Reversed Due to Lack of Proof of Proximate Cause
The Middle Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals recently released its opinion in Wilson v. Americare Sys., Inc., No. M2011-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 5, 2012). Here's the summary from the opinion:
Decedent’s next of kin filed this wrongful death action against an assisted living facility, two nurses, and the facility’s management company for failure to provide proper care and treatment. This appeal concerns only the jury verdict and judgment finding the management company directly liable for failure to provide adequate staff at the assisted living facility. We find no material evidence to support a conclusion that any staffing deficiency proximately caused the decedent’s death. We therefore reverse the judgment finding direct liability on the part of the management company.
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/wilsonropn.pdf
The lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, C.J. Gideon Jr., rarely does plainitffs' work; he mostly defends cases. Here's the link to his firm's Web site:
http://www.gideoncooper.com/.
He is also an adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School, which makes you wonder why he didn't prove such an elementary thing as causation as the Court of Appeals found in this case.
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