Walton Cunningham v. Williamson County Hosp. Dist. d/b/a Williamson Med. Ctr.
2013 Tenn. LEXIS 440
| Tenn. | 2013Background
- Phillip Cunningham died in 2008 after treatment at Williamson Medical Center, a government entity.
- Cunninghams provided pre-suit notice under § 29-26-121 on Nov. 14 and 16, 2009.
- Cunninghams filed suit March 12, 2010, asserting medical malpractice against hospital staff.
- GTLA provides a 12-month statute of limitations for suits against governmental entities like the hospital.
- § 29-26-121(a) requires pre-suit notice; § 29-26-121(c) extends applicable statutes by 120 days after notice.
- Whether § 29-26-121(c) applies to GTLA actions is the central issue; appellate courts below disagreed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether § 29-26-121(c) extends GTLA limitations | Cunningham contends the 120-day extension applies to GTLA claims. | Williamson Hospital argues § 29-26-121(c) does not apply to GTLA actions. | No, § 29-26-121(c) does not apply to GTLA claims. |
Key Cases Cited
- Mills v. Fulmarque, Inc., 360 S.W.3d 362 (Tenn. 2012) (statutory construction framework; de novo review)
- Lee Med., Inc. v. Beecher, 312 S.W.3d 515 (Tenn. 2010) (interpretation of statutes with plain meaning)
- Doyle v. Frost, 49 S.W.3d 853 (Tenn. 2001) (GTLA limitations not extended by general rules)
- Lucius v. City of Memphis, 925 S.W.2d 522 (Tenn. 1996) (post-judgment interest not precluded by GTLA; general rules inapplicable)
- Lynn v. City of Jackson, 63 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2001) (general savings statute not extending GTLA limitations absent explicit language)