Showing posts with label failure to state a claim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label failure to state a claim. Show all posts

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Court Reviews a Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim in a Case Involving a Hospital

MCCALL BRISTER v. HCA HEALTH SERVICES OF TENNESSEE, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. June 9, 2011)



This is an appeal from the trial court's grant of a hospital's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The trial court determined that plaintiff's claim sounded in medical malpractice and dismissed plaintiff's claim for failure to comply with the written notice and certificate of good faith requirements of the Tennessee Medical Malpractice Act. Finding that Plaintiff's complaint states claim for ordinary negligence and premises liability, we reverse the trial court and remand the case for further proceedings. 


Opinion available at:

http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/bristerm_060911.pdf

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Court Reviews Whether Plaintiff Sufficiently Stated Her Claims Against Jackson County Defendants

TERESA LYNN JACKSON v. AARON THOMAS, INDIVIDUALLY AND IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CIRCUIT COURT CLERK OF JACKSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. March 24, 2011)

Plaintiff appeals the Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02 dismissal of her claims against two defendants, the Circuit Court Clerk of Jackson County, individually and in his official capacity, and Jackson County, Tennessee for a violation of 42 U.S.C. section 1983, the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, and numerous intentional torts. The trial court dismissed all claims against these defendants finding that Plaintiff failed to state a claim. We affirm the trial court in all respects.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/jacksont_032411.pdf

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Court reviews whether plaintiff adequately stated a claim for relief

CHARLES D. STECHEBAR V. DEERE & COMPANY & JOHN DOE (Tenn. Ct. App. June 29, 2010)

This case concerns a complaint for review by writ of certiorari and supersedeas. The initial action was a personal injury suit, arising from an automobile accident in which Plaintiff Charles D. Stechebar's vehicle was allegedly hit by a tractor-trailer owned by Defendant Deere and Company ("Deere") and driven by Defendant John Doe, an unidentified employee of Deere.

The personal injury suit was dismissed with prejudice in the general sessions court when the plaintiff failed to appear for the initial trial date. The record reflects that twelve days before the initial trial date, the plaintiff had filed an amended civil summons and obtained a new trial date.

Fifty days after the dismissal, the plaintiff filed an appeal to the circuit court, asserting that he had not been notified of the dismissal in time to file an appeal within the ten-day window required by Tenn. Code Ann. Section 27-5-108(a)(1). The circuit court dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiff then filed the complaint for review by statutory writ of certiorari and supersedeas. The circuit court granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the writ on the ground that the plaintiff failed to state a claim for which review could be granted. We hold that the plaintiff stated a claim for relief under statutory writ of certiorari and supersedeas. The trial court's judgment is reversed and the case remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/stechebarc_062910.pdf

Friday, June 25, 2010

Court reviews dismissal of medical malpractice case

SHAWN HOWELL, Individually and as Administrator for the Estate of JESSE FRANKLIN BROWNING, JR. v. CLAIBORNE AND HUGHES HEALTH CENTER (Tenn. Ct. App. June 25, 2010)

This is a medical malpractice action. Appellant originally filed a claim in 2007 in the name of an estate. The original claim was subsequently non-suited. Less than one year later, the claim was then re-filed, also in the name of an estate. With permission of the court, the Appellant later amended the complaint to name the administrator of the estate as the plaintiff.

However, upon the Appellee's motion, the trial court dismissed the complaint finding: (1) the complaint was barred by the statute of limitations as there were no allegations in the complaint which would invoke the savings statute; (2) the complaint failed to state with particularity the specific acts of negligence; and (3) that the Appellant failed to comply with the notice requirements for a medical malpractice action found in Tenn. Code. Ann. section 29-26- 121. Finding that the trial court erred, we reverse the decision of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.

Opinion may be found at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/howells_062510.pdf