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

Heading: facts

Text: For purposes of this appeal, the facts are not disputed. On May 24, 1984, plaintiff Ray Sharp sustained multiple injuries in an automobile-train accident in Memphis, Tennessee, including a severely comminuted fracture of the femur in his right leg. On June 11, 1984, defendant Dr. Greer E. Richardson, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with defendant Campbell Clinic, performed surgery to repair the fracture and utilized a Gross-Kempf locking intermedullary rod, also called an intramedullary nail, which was manufactured by defendant Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc., (hereafter Pfizer). About three months later, Sharp began experiencing pain and was re-hospitalized. X-rays taken revealed that the intermedullary rod inserted into Sharp's femur had broken. On September 19, 1984, Campbell Clinic physicians other than Richardson performed a second surgery to remove and replace the broken rod. However, x-rays taken approximately six months later revealed that the new rod, also manufactured by Pfizer, had broken. The plaintiffs, Ray and Nell Sharp, filed suit on August 6, 1985, alleging that Richardson and Campbell Clinic were liable for medical malpractice because Richardson failed to supply appropriate information regarding complications that could result from the use of the intramedullary rod and its failure rate, and because he failed to advise Sharp that he should remain non-weight bearing for a specified period of time. As to Pfizer, the complaint alleged that the corporation manufactured and distributed a product that was in a defective condition which rendered it unreasonably dangerous and unfit for the purposes for which it was intended. Plaintiffs therefore alleged strict products liability, breach of the warranty of fitness and merchantability, and failure to warn. Since the initial failure occurred on September 14, 1984, and suit was filed on August 6, 1985, it is undisputed that the plaintiffs initially filed the complaint within the one-year statute of limitations, the three-year medical malpractice statute of repose, and the six-year products liability statute of repose. When the case finally came to trial, however, plaintiffs moved for a voluntary dismissal, which was granted without prejudice on April 3, 1991. Less than one year after the order of voluntary dismissal, the Sharps refiled their action on April 1, 1992, alleging the same claims of medical malpractice and products liability against the same defendants. They relied upon the Tennessee savings statute which provides that if an action is filed within the statute of limitations and a judgment of dismissal is entered on any ground not concluding the right of action, the action may be refiled within one year after the dismissal. Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-105(a) (1980 & Supp. 1995). The defendants responded by moving for summary judgment on the grounds that the refiled action was barred. Defendants Richardson and Campbell Clinic relied upon the three-year medical malpractice statute of repose, which provides that no medical malpractice action shall be brought more than three years after the date on which the negligent act occurred. Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-116(a)(3) (1980). Similarly, defendant Pfizer alleged that the plaintiffs' claims against it were barred by the products liability statute of repose, which requires actions to be brought within six years of the date of injury. Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103(a) (1980). The trial court denied the defendants' motions, but granted them permission to seek an interlocutory appeal. The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's decision and dismissed the complaint, concluding that the savings statute does not save an action that was refiled beyond the applicable statute of repose. Thereafter, we granted the plaintiffs' permission to appeal and now reverse.