If a claim is a health care liability claim under the TMLA, then the Plaintiff must file an expert report from a qualified medical provider setting forth the exact standard of care that applies and how it was violated within 120 days of filing the lawsuit. If the plaintiff fails to do so, the case must be dismissed with no opportunity to refile.  Locating and hiring a medical provider to render such a report is often neither easy nor cheap. It can substantially increase the cost of filing a lawsuit. Further, if the report doesn’t withstand the Court’s scrutiny, it can be thrown out with the case following shortly thereafter.