Tennessee Court of Appeals Holds That Plaintiff's Failure to Effect Proper Presuit Notice Prevents Initial Action from Being Timely Filed, Which Prevents Case from Being Refiled under the Saving Statute

The Tennessee Court of Appeals released its opinion in Byrge v. Parkwest Med. Ctr., No. E2013-00927-COA-R3-CV (Jan. 30, 2014).  The summary from the slip opinion states as follows:

After taking a non-suit, Bobby J. Byrge, individually and as next of kin for the decedent Julia Kay Byrge, and the Estate of Julia Kay Byrge (“Plaintiff”) filed a second healthcare liability suit against Parkwest Medical Center (“Parkwest”) and Dr. John C. Showalter, M.D.[] Parkwest filed a motion to dismiss, and after a hearing, the Trial Court granted Parkwest’s motion finding and holding that Plaintiff’s suit was barred by the statute of limitations.  Plaintiff appeals to this Court asserting that his suit was not barred as he was entitled to rely upon Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-105, the saving statute. We affirm finding and holding, as did the Trial Court, that Plaintiff’s first suit was not timely filed because Plaintiff did not comply with Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121, and, therefore, Plaintiff could not rely upon Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-105 to save his second suit.

Here's a link to the opinion:

http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/byrgebjopn.pdf