Opinion ID: 1743230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: products liability statute of repose

Text: We are asked to answer a different but analogous question  one of first impression  whether the savings statute applies to save an action that is timely filed within both the products liability statute of limitations and statute of repose, but refiled beyond the six-year statute of repose. To resolve this issue, we must examine the express language of both the products liability statute of repose and the savings statute, as well as their underlying purposes. In performing this analysis, we observe and apply the familiar rules of statutory construction as follows: The role of this Court in construing statutes is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent.... A construction which places one statute in conflict with another must be avoided; therefore, we must resolve any possible conflict between statutes in favor of each other, so as to provide a harmonious operation of the laws. Id. at 912 (citations omitted). The products liability statute of repose provides as follows: Any action against a manufacturer or seller of a product for injury to person or property caused by its defective or unreasonably dangerous condition must be brought within the period fixed by §§ 28-3-104, 28-3-105, 28-3-202 and 47-2-725, but notwithstanding any exceptions to these provisions it must be brought within six years of the date of injury, in any event, the action must be brought within ten (10) years from the date on which the product was first purchased for use or consumption, or within one (1) year after the expiration of the anticipated life of the product, whichever is shorter, except in the case of injury to minors whose action must be brought within a period of one (1) year after attaining the age of majority, whichever occurs sooner. Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103(a) (1980 & Supp. 1995) (emphasis added). The express language of the savings statute provides that: If the action is commenced within the time limited by a rule or statute of limitation, but the judgment or decree is rendered against the plaintiff upon any ground not concluding the plaintiff's right of action, or where the judgment or decree is rendered in favor of the plaintiff, and is arrested, or reversed on appeal, the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's representatives and privies, as the case may be, may, from time to time, commence a new action within one (1) year after the reversal or arrest. Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-105(a) (1980 & Supp. 1995). In this Court, Pfizer argues that unlike the medical malpractice statute of repose, the plain language of the products liability statute of repose, notwithstanding any exceptions to these provisions, specifically excludes exceptions to the statute of limitations, like the savings statute. In addition, according to Pfizer, the language necessarily includes the savings statute as an exception because the savings statute was enacted prior to the products liability statute of repose, and the Legislature is presumed to have knowledge of its prior enactments and to know the state of the law at the time it passes legislation. Wilson v. Johnson County, 879 S.W.2d 807, 809 (Tenn. 1994). Pfizer, therefore, contends that the plaintiffs' action is barred since it was refiled almost eight years after the injury occurred. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, contend that the savings statute is not encompassed within the term exception used in the statute of repose because a litigant cannot avail himself or herself of the benefits of the savings statute unless he or she first files the action within the time limited by a rule or statute of limitation. As we observed in Cronin , the Tennessee savings statute is remedial and was enacted to afford a diligent plaintiff the opportunity to renew a suit that was dismissed without concluding the plaintiff's right of action. Id. at 912, ( citing Dukes v. Montgomery County Nursing Home, 639 S.W.2d 910, 913 (Tenn. 1982) (emphasis added)). Indeed, we said many years ago that [t]he statute has not merely letter but a spirit. That spirit is manifested in the history of the statute... . It is that a plaintiff shall not be finally cast out by the force of any judgment or decree whatsoever, not concluding his right of action, without an opportunity to sue again within the brief-period limited. Nashville, C & St. L. Ry. v. Bolton, 134 Tenn. 447, 184 S.W. 9, 11 (1916). Accordingly, the statute has long been liberally construed in order to bring cases within its spirit and fair intention. Cronin, 906 S.W.2d at 913. In contrast to the long history of the savings statute, the products liability statute of repose was enacted in 1978 as part of a comprehensive legislative package. The stated purpose of the products liability statute of repose was to provide a specific period of time for which product liability insurance premiums can be reasonably and accurately calculated. Tenn. Public Acts 1978, ch. 703, § 1. In other words, the products liability statute of repose was designed to limit the time within which a suit alleging products liability may be brought and thereby address the actuarial concerns of the insurance industry and allow for accurate assessment of liability exposure for insurance purposes. The six-year limit here was intended by the Legislature to provide certainty as to the time period during which product manufacturers and sellers could be subject to potential liability. The role of the Court in construing statutes is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent. 906 S.W.2d at 912. Whenever possible, courts should avoid conflict between statutes and construe them harmoniously. Id. If this Court were to adopt Pfizer's position, the purpose of the savings statute would be frustrated and such a construction would amount to a repeal by implication, which is disfavored. See Jenkins v. Loudon County, 736 S.W.2d 603 (Tenn. 1987). Although, as Pfizer suggests, the Legislature is presumed to have knowledge of its prior enactments, repeals or alterations of existing statutes by implication is disfavored. Id. If the Legislature had intended the exceptions language in the products liability statute of repose to supersede the longstanding savings statute, it could have explicitly stated its intention. In the absence of specific language stating its intention to supersede the savings statute, we will not presume a repeal. As we explained in Cronin , this Court will avoid constructions that place one statute in conflict with another and attempt to arrive at a reasonable interpretation that will effectuate the intention of the Legislature, as well as provide for harmonious operation of the laws. 906 S.W.2d at 912 (citations omitted). Because the plaintiffs initially filed their products liability action on August 6, 1985, within the statute of limitations, as well as within the period of six years from the date of injury, they complied with the letter of the products liability statute of repose and fulfilled its legislative purpose  to limit the time period during which a manufacturer is subject to a claim of potential liability. Since the plaintiff's suit was commenced within the time limited by a rule or statute of limitation, and was concluded by an order of voluntarily dismissal without prejudice, its refiling was within the express terms and longstanding purpose and spirit of the savings statute  to provide a diligent plaintiff with an opportunity to renew a suit that is dismissed by any judgment or decree that does not conclude the right of action. Therefore, application of the savings statute in this case does not conflict nor frustrate either the letter or purpose of the products liability statute of repose. Accordingly, we conclude that where, as here, a products liability action is timely filed within both the statute of limitations and the statute of repose, a plaintiff who voluntarily non-suits the initial action may rely upon the savings statute and refile within one year of the non-suit, even if the non-suit and refiling occur beyond the six-year statute of repose.