Tennessee does not recognize a common law cause of action for wrongful foreclosure. In Case v. Wilmington Trust, N.A., No. E2021-00378-SC-R11-CV, — S.W.3d — (Tenn. Nov. 14, 2024), the Tennessee Supreme Court held that there is no tort for wrongful foreclosure in Tennessee. In the underlying case, plaintiff alleged that…
Articles Posted in Miscellaneous
Tort claim barred by economic loss doctrine.
Where plaintiff brought a tort action against defendant based on defective products made pursuant to a contract between the parties, dismissal based on the economic loss doctrine was affirmed. In Vidafuel, Inc. v. Kerry, Inc., No. M2024-00041-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 4, 2024), the plaintiff developed and distributed wellness…
Obtaining Medical Records For Deceased Person in Tennessee
There has been lots of confusion in Tennessee over how to obtain medical records of a deceased person. Some providers require that an estate be opened and a HIPAA-compliant authorization be signed by the personal representative of the estate before they will turn over medical records. This is a ridiculous…
Trespass requires nominal damages.
A finding of trespass requires a court to award nominal damages under Tennessee law. In Dorer v. Hennessee, No. M2023-00729-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 12, 2024) (memorandum opinion), the Court of Appeals overturned a trial court’s refusal to award damages after a trespass finding. While the Court deemed most of…
No causation or improper motive in tortious interference case
Where plaintiffs asserting a tortious interference with a business relationship claim could not show that the defendants intended to cause a breach or termination of the relationship, which had already been breached before defendants’ involvement, or that defendants acted with an improper motive, summary judgment for defendants was affirmed. In…
Summary judgment based on release of “all persons… from any claim” reversed.
Where plaintiff was the passenger in a car accident that occurred when the vehicle she was riding in crashed into fencing and construction equipment owned by defendant construction company that was located in the right lane of a street, and plaintiff had settled with and executed a release of the…
No joint and several liability? No credit for other tortfeasor’s payments
Where a trial court’s judgment did not include a finding of joint-and-several liability, a defendant against whom a judgment was entered could not be credited with payments made by another defendant or by a non-party. In Gerrish & McCreary, P.C. v. Lane, No. W2022-01441-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 5, 2023),…
Tort Cases Pending Before the Tennessee Supreme Court (01-16-2024)
There are seven tort cases pending before the Tennessee Supreme Court. Here is a list of the cases and the summary of the holding of the Tennessee Court of Appeals (if applicable) in each case: Style: Williams v. Smyrna Residential, LLC et al. TSC Docket Number: M2021-00927-SC-R11-CV Court of Appeals Opinion:…
Conservator had authority to release HCLA claims against doctor.
A disabled person’s conservator had the authority to enter into a consent agreement releasing the person’s HCLA claims against a doctor without approval from the probate court. In Hamilton v. Methodist Healthcare Memphis Hospitals, No. W2022-00054-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 16, 2023), plaintiff filed an HCLA suit as conservator on…
Actual damages not required for intrusion upon seclusion claim.
A Tennessee plaintiff asserting a claim for invasion of privacy based on intrusion upon seclusion was not required to show actual damages, as actual damages are not an essential element of an intrusion upon seclusion claim. In Jones v. Life Care Centers of America d/b/a Life Care Center of Tullahoma,…