Medical Malpractice: New Opinion on the Locality Rule Post-Shipley

Today, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, issued its opinion in Meares v. Traylor, No. E2011-02187-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jul. 27, 2012).  

Plaintiffs charged defendant with medical malpractice. The case was tried before a jury, resulting in a judgment for the defendant. An out-of-state medical doctor testified on behalf of the defendant, over the objection of plaintiffs. Plaintiffs have appealed to this Court, insisting that it was reversible error for the Trial Court to allow that expert to testify in violation of the "Locality Rule". On appeal, we affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court.

Here's a link to the opinion:

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/sites/default/files/mearsgopn.pdf

Medical Malpractice: Summary Judgment for Defense Reversed and Trial Court Order to Exercise Its Discretion to Determine If "Extraordinary Cause" Exists Upon Remand

Yesterday, the Western Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Hawkins v. Martin, No. W2011-02318-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Jul. 24, 2012).  The summary from the opinion states as follows:

The trial court granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss in this medical malpractice action where Plaintiff failed to attach a HIPPA compliant medical authorization to her notice to Defendants prior to filing her complaint as required by Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-26-121. Plaintiff appeals. We vacate and remand for further proceedings.

Here's a link to the opinion:

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

Pray for the People in Colorado

Please pray for the people affected by the senseless act in Aurora, Colorado. Keep them in your thoughts, too.

There but for the grace of God, go I.  

:-(

Tennessee Legal Resources

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.)

TENNESSEE LEGAL RESOURCES

I. Statutory Materials

Print

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Hein’s Superseded State Statutes and Codes, Microfiche 3093 (1831 -present)

Online

Michie’s Tennessee Code & Constitution (powered by Lexis)

LexisNexis


Tennessee Constitution (TNCNST)
Tennessee Code Annotated (CODE)
Tennessee Advance Legislative Service (TNALS)

Westlaw

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)

II. Legislative Materials

Print

Tennessee. General Assembly. House. Journal, KFT 18 .T2 yr.c
Tennessee. General Assembly. Senate. Journal, KFT 18 .T2 yr.b

Online

Legislation
Legislative Search
Senate Journal
House Journal

Additional digitized volumes of the legislative journals may be available through the following sources:

Google Books
Hathi Trust

LexisNexis

Tennessee Full-Text Bills (TNTEXT)
Tennessee Bill Tracking Reports (TNTRCK)
Tennessee Legislative Bill History (TNLH) (1999 - present)

Westlaw

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


Print

Official Compilation Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee, KFT 35 1975 .A22
Tennessee Administrative Register, KFT 36 .T4

Online

Rules & Regulations
The Tennessee Administrative Register (T.A.R.)

LexisNexis

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)

Westlaw


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

Print

Opinions of the Attorney General of Tennessee, KFT 440 .A556

Online

Attorney General Opinions (2000 – present)

LexisNexis

Tennessee Attorney General Opinions (TNAG) (1977 - present)
Tennessee Regulatory Utility Commission Decisions (TNPUC) (1996 - present)
Tennessee Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel (TNSWCA) (1992 - present)

Westlaw

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

Print

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

Finding Aids

West’s Tennessee Digest 2d, KFT 57 .T4 1986

Online

Supreme Court (1995 – present)
Court of Appeals (1995 – present)
Court of Criminal Appeals (1995 – present)

LexisNexis

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)

Westlaw

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)

Print

Tennessee Rules of Court: Local, KFT 529 .A197 Local
Tennessee Rules of Court: State, KFT 529 .A197 State

Online

Court Rules

LexisNexis

TN - Tennessee State & Federal Court Rules (TNRULE)

Westlaw

Tennessee Court Rules (TN-RULES)
Tennessee Rules Update Orders (TN-RULESUPDATES)
Criminal Justice - Tennessee Court Rules (TNCJ-RULES)

VII. Jury Instructions (State)

Print

Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions. Civil, KFT 80 .T4 1967 v. 8
Tennessee Jury Instructions: Criminal Cases, KFT 583 .S45

Online

Pattern Jury Instructions (Not official ones)
Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions (Not official ones)

LexisNexis

Tennessee Civil Jury Instructions - TBD
Tennessee Criminal Jury Instructions - TBD

Westlaw

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)


Print

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

Online

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/node/431 (Tennessee state trial court forms)

LexisNexis

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)

Westlaw

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

Print

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

Finding Aids

West's Federal Practice Digest, KF 127 .F4
West’s Bankruptcy Digest, KF 1515.3 .W475

Online

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1999 – present published; 2004 – present unpublished)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (PACER subscription)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (by Judge)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
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)

Print

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

Online

Supreme Court Rules
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
Federal Rules of Evidence
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 

U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee

LexisNexis

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)
TN - Tennessee State & Federal Court Rules (TNRULE)

Westlaw

Federal Rules (US-RULES)

KeyRules - Tennessee - U.S. District Court (KEYRULES-TN-DCT)

XI. Jury Instructions (Federal)

Print

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

Online

Sixth Circuit Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions

LexisNexis

Modern Federal Jury Instructions - Civil (MOFCIV)
Modern Federal Jury Instructions - Criminal (MOFEJI)
USCS Federal Sentencing Guidelines (GLINE)

Westlaw

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)

Print

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

Online

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee

LexisNexis

Bender's Federal Practice Forms (FDPRAC)

Westlaw

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

Official Web Site of the State of Tennessee
Office of the Governor
Tennessee Frequently Used Forms
Tennessee State Library and Archives

Westlaw

Sourcebook Tennessee State Agencies (SB-TN-AGENCY)

XIV. Local Government Resources

Municode
Counties & Cities

XV. Ethics

Rules of Professional Conduct
Ethics Opinions
Code of Judicial Conduct

LexisNexis

Tennessee Judicial Ethics Committee Opinions (TNJETH) (1997 - present)
National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsiblity - TN Opinions (1992 - present)


Westlaw

Ethics Opinions (Board of Professional Responsibility (TNETH-EO)

XVI. Practice Materials

Print

Tennessee Jurisprudence: an Encyclopedia of Tennessee Law, KFT 65 .T46 1982
Tennessee Legal Research, KFT 75 .M37 2007
Tennessee Practice, KFT 80 .T4 1967

Online

Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education & Specialization
TennBarU (CLE from the Tennessee Bar Association)

XVII. Bar Associations & Law Schools


Print

Tennessee Bar Association
The Tennessee Bar Journal [KF 200 .T4]
Journal of Copyright, Entertainment and Sports Law [KF 200 .J612]
Chattanooga Bar Association
Knoxville Bar Association
Memphis Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association
University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Law Library
The Tennessee Journal of Practice & Procedure [The University of Iowa Libraries InfoLink]
University of Memphis Law Review [K 13 .E572]
Nashville School of Law
University of Tennessee College of Law
Law Library
Tennessee Law Review [K 24 .E663]
Vanderbilt University Law School
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]

LexisNexis


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)

Westlaw

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)

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.

Here's a link to the opinion:

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

The Declaration of Independence

Please watch this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyttEu_NLU.

Have a great and happy Fourth of July, folks!