How Long Do You Have To Appeal A Personal Injury Case in Tennessee?

I won a personal injury trial in circuit court in Smith County, Tennessee?  How long does the defendant have to appeal the jury verdict?

First, the court has to enter a judgment on your verdict.   The defendant then must file a notice of appeal to the Tennessee Court of Appeals within 30 days.

However, the defendant can ask the trial court to set aside the verdict, grant a new trial or reduce the verdict.  If the defendant wants to do this, the appropriate papers must be filed within 30 days after the judgment is entered in your case.   If the defendant files these papers on time, the court will usually have a hearing and then issue a ruling.  If the court refuses to set aside the jury verdict or grant a new trial, the defendant will have 30 days from the date that of the court’s order to appeal.  If the court reduces the verdict, you can accept the lower amount, accept it under protest and appeal within 30 days, or elect to have a new trial.  

So, a jury verdict is in one sense the end of a case and in another sense simply sets in motion the right of the losing party to complain about the result.  In fact, even the winning party can complain that not enough money was awarded.