Tennessee Health Care Liability Attorneys

Statute of Limitations

1 year

1 year from discovery (T.C.A. § 29-26-116); 60-day Pre-Suit Notice extends SOL by 120 days under § 29-26-121

Statute of Repose

3 years

3 years from the act or omission (T.C.A. § 29-26-116); foreign-object and fraudulent-concealment exceptions apply

Non-Economic Damages Cap

$750k

$750,000 standard / $1,000,000 catastrophic (paralysis, amputations, severe burns, etc.) under T.C.A. § 29-39-102

Pre-Suit Requirements

60-day Pre-Suit

60-day Pre-Suit Notice with HIPAA authorization under T.C.A. § 29-26-121; Certificate of Good Faith under § 29-26-122

Certificate of Good Faith

Plaintiff’s counsel

Plaintiff’s counsel must certify consultation with a qualified expert concluding there is a good-faith basis for the claim — failure can lead to dismissal with prejudice

Typical attorney fee

33%

33%–40% contingency — no fee unless you win

Tennessee renamed its medical malpractice law the Health Care Liability Act (T.C.A. § 29-26-101 et seq.) effective 2011. The plaintiff must serve a 60-day Pre-Suit Notice under T.C.A. § 29-26-121 on each defendant, including HIPAA-compliant medical authorization. A Certificate of Good Faith under T.C.A. § 29-26-122 must be filed with the complaint, certifying that the attorney consulted with a qualified expert who concluded there is a good-faith basis for the claim. Non-economic damages are capped at $750,000 (or $1M for catastrophic injuries — paralysis, severe burns, multiple amputations, etc.) under T.C.A. § 29-39-102. The 1-year SOL (T.C.A. § 29-26-116) runs from discovery, with a 3-year statute of repose. Vanderbilt Health, HCA Healthcare TriStar, Methodist Le Bonheur (Memphis), and Ballad Health (East TN) dominate the state’s medical defense.