At what point do email blasts from one state into another allow a defendant to be sued in the state where the emails were sent (and where the plaintiff resides)? Plaintiff lived in Illinois and was injured at a ski resort in Wisconsin. He sued the resort in Illinois and…
Articles Posted in Civil Procedure
Expert Affidavit Does Not Satisfy Certificate of Good Faith Requirement
While some parts of the Health Care Liability Act (HCLA) are making their way towards substantial compliance, the Court of Appeals recently reiterated that the requirement to file a certificate of good faith under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-122 is mandatory. In Dennis v. Smith, No. E2014-00636-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App.…
Personal Injury Plaintiff Wins Summary Judgment
Although summary judgment is often thought of as a tool for defendants, plaintiffs in personal injury cases should remember that motions for summary judgment can be beneficial and successful for them as well. In Bloomfield v. Metro. Govt. of Nashville and Davidson Co., No. M2014-00438-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. March 26,…
Removal of Cases to Federal Court Before In-State Defendants Are Served
The Center for Constitutional Litigation has an interesting post about efforts by out-of-state defendants to remove cases from state court to federal court before in-state defendants are served.
Tennessee Requires Formal Notice Before Each Medical Malpractice Filing
The issue of whether a Tennessee plaintiff who nonsuits his or her first medical malpractice (now heatlh care liability) complaint must give a second notice before re-filing is a closed matter given the recent ruling in Foster v. Chiles. In the recent case of Potter v. Perrigan, No. E2013-01442-COA-R3-CV (Tenn.…
New Local Rules in Tennessee’s 23rd Judicial District
The judge’s in Tennessee’s 23rd Judicial District – Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart Counties – have adopted new rules of court for the circuit and chancery courts. Among the new rules is a requirement that all civil cases except appeals from the general sessions court be mediated before they…
Upcoming Civil Case Arguments at the Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear two health care liability disputes among four cases scheduled for oral arguments March 4, 2015 in Jackson, Tennessee, one of which will address an interesting civil procedure question. The first case concerns the procedures required when filing a health care liability lawsuit. At the time…
Local Rule Changes in the 21st Judicial District
The Judges in the Chancery and Circuit Courts for Williamson, Hickman, Perry and Lewis Counties have announced substantial changes to the local rules of court. The changes were effective December 1, 2014. Among other significant changes, the local rules now require that one who objects to a motion filed by…
A Website and a Unilateral Phone Call – No Personal Jurisdiction
The Court of Appeals recently addressed the requirements of personal jurisdiction within the context of a misrepresentation case. In Wall Transportation, LLC v. Damiron Corp., No. M2014-00487-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 19, 2014), plaintiff was a Tennessee limited liability company and defendant was an Indiana…
Offer of Judgment Cannot Be Revoked During 10-Day Window
The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently took up a civil procedure issue of first impression in the state. In McGinnis v. Cox, No. M2014-00102-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 31, 2014), the issue presented was“[w]hether a Rule 68 offer of judgment may be revoked by the offeror within the ten-day time…