The Administrative Office of the Courts has released the Annual Report of the Tennessee Judiciary for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013. The report provides detailed information on each judicial district in the state. For instance, the report indicates the number of tort cases (claims for personal injury or wrongful death) filed in…
In Manhattan this week, jurors are debating whether Matthew Martoma is guilty of insider trading while at SAC Capital Advisors, a prominent hedge-fund. For an injury lawyer, Mr. Martoma’s trial raises an interesting question: what kind of background searches are being performed these days? I ask this question because Mr. Martoma’s…
There were five jury trials in personal injury and wrongful death cases in Davidson County (Nashville) Tennessee during the month of November 2013. Two of those cases were slip and fall calls, also known as "premises liability" cases. In one of those cases, the jury returned a verdict for the…
Let me begin with a confession: I married a defense lawyer. Well, a former defense lawyer. She has since left the "dark side" and joined our firm. But before she found the light, she was involved in all types of injury cases for insurance carriers and major corporations. Below is list of some of the things…
A scheduling order is a pretrial order that governs the progress of a case as it proceeds toward a trial. A scheduling order provides deadlines for taking depositions, conducting written discovery, identifying and deposing expert witnesses, filing certain types of motions, and other deadlines appropriate to the case. It may…
A structured settlement is an agreement reached between a plaintiff (the person who files a lawsuit) and the insurance company for the defendant (the person or company that is sued) to pay a personal injury or wrongful death settlement to the plaintiff over time rather than paying the money in…
Unlike Kentucky, Tennessee does not have a law that permits each patient to have a free copy of his or her medical record from a health care provider. Tennessee law permits health care providers to charge for each and every copy of a medical record. It is important to have…
A subpoena is a court order requiring a person to appear in court to give testimony, produce documents or things, or both. Subpoenas are issued by the clerk of the court in which the case is pending. In Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, there is a $6.00 fee to issue…
Here are the results for personal injury and wrongful death jury trials in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee for January, 201. Automobile Case: $339,163 for the Plaintiff Automobile Case: $143,451 plus $7500 for the Plaintiff Automobile Case: $10,001 (minus 20% for comparative fault) for the Plaintiff Negligence / Breach of Warranty:…
A jury is considered "deadlocked" when it is unable to reach an unanimous decision. In Tennessee personal injury and wrongful death trials a jury of twelve people sits in judgment of the case and all twelve must agree on all issues. When they fail to do so they are "deadlocked."…