Tenn. Restricts Medical Malpractice Suits

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen signed into law a bill seeking to limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits by requiring experts to vouch for a case’s merits. The law will also require plaintiffs to give 60 days notice before filing a lawsuit.

The bill sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris, of Collierville, does not cap damages that could be awarded to victims of malpractice.

The new law came about after the resurrection of a bipartisan effort on a measure that fell apart in the House last year over proposed changes on which medical experts can testify in malpractice trials. The new law contains no changes for experts’ qualifications.