New Health Care Liability Action Opinion: Summary Judgment for Defense Upheld on Appeal

The Tennessee Court of Appeals just issued its opinion in Duncan v. Ledford, No. W2015-02370-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 24, 2015).  The summary from the slip opinion states as follows:

This is a healthcare liability case. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Appellees, Appellant’s treating physician and her employer. Summary judgment was based on the trial court’s finding that Appellants had failed to meet their burden of proof to show that Appellee doctor deviated from the standard of care or that the treatment provided caused Appellant to sustain injuries that otherwise would not have occurred. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Here is a link to the slip opinion:

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

What Is Required to Maintain a Personl Injury Lawsuit When the Plaintiff Dies from a Subsequent Injury Unrelated to the Injury That Birthed the Personal Injury Lawsuit

The Tennessee Court of Appeals just issued its opinion in Dubis v. Loyd, No. W2015-02192-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 15, 2016).  The summary from the opinion states as follows:

After the death of the original plaintiff while this case was pending, a timely motion for substitution was filed to substitute the original plaintiff's parents as the real party in interest pursuant to Rule 25.01 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. The motion indicated that the original plaintiff‟s parents were her only heirs and that no estate was to be opened for the original plaintiff in her home state of Missouri. The defendant filed an objection to the substitution asserting that the original plaintiff's heirs were not the proper parties, but the trial court eventually allowed parents to be substituted as plaintiffs. After the parties became aware that an estate had been opened for the original plaintiff in Missouri, defendant filed a motion to dismiss based upon non-compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated [s]ection 20-5-104, which requires a showing that no person is willing to administer the estate of a deceased party before his or her heirs may revive a claim. Parents filed a response in opposition and, in the alternative, a motion for enlargement of time to file a motion to substitute the original plaintiff‟s personal representative. The trial court denied the motion for enlargement of time and granted the defendant‟s motion to dismiss. Because parents have shown excusable neglect sufficient to justify an enlargement of time under Rule 6.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

Here is a link to the opinion:

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

NOTE: I applaud the Court of Appeals here because Tennessee has a long-standing, well-thought-out policy of allowing claims to be resolved upon their merits and not upon procedural technicalities, which is noted on page 12 of the opinion.

New Health Care Liability Action Opinion: Plaintiff's Case Dismissed Due to Counsel's Failure to Comply with Onerous Presuit Notice and Filing Requirements; Common-knowledge Exception Found Not to Apply

The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently issued its opinion in Newman v. Guardian Healthcare Providers, Inc., No. M2015-01315-COA-R3-CV (Jul. 27, 2016).  The summary from the slip opinion states as follows:

On August 4, 2013, Kevin Beazley, a resident at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute (MTMHI), attacked Billy Joe Newman, another patient and resident, causing injuries that resulted in Newman‟s death. His widow, Unitta Sue Newman (plaintiff), brought this action against several corporations (defendants) that provided nursing and medical staff to MTMHI. The trial court dismissed the complaint with prejudice, on the grounds that it was governed by the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act (THCLA), and plaintiff did not comply with either the pre-suit notice requirement of Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-121 (Supp. 2015), or the certificate of good faith requirement of § 29-26-122 (2012). Plaintiff argues that the allegations of her complaint fall under the “common knowledge” exception to the general rule requiring expert testimony to establish medical negligence, and, thus, she was not required to file a certificate of good faith. She asserts that the trial court should have dismissed her complaint without prejudice. Because plaintiff‟s negligence claims involve matters of professional medical knowledge, judgment, and treatment not within the common knowledge of ordinary lay persons, we affirm.

Here's a link to the slip opinion, to wit:

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/sites/default/files/newman.unittav.guardianhealthcareproviders.opn_.pdf