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Plaintiff Cassandra Hughlett underwent a cesarean section in 1991, during which a surgical sponge was negligently left in her abdomen, causing severe pain and requiring further hospitalisation for its removal. She subsequently filed a medical malpractice suit against Shelby County Health Care Corporation and Regional Medical Center at Memphis, alleging negligence. After reaching a settlement on other matters, the sole remaining issue for decision was whether Hughlett could recover $6,777.17 in medical expenses paid by the Tennessee Medicaid program from the defendants. The trial court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, a decision which was appealed by Shelby County Health Care Corporation. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, citing the precedent set in Nance by Nance v. Westside Hosp. It concluded that because Medicaid payments carry a right of subrogation for the state, the plaintiff's losses were not replaced or indemnified under T.C.A. § 29-26-119, thus making the benefits recoverable from the tortfeasors.
Cassandra HUGHLETT, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. SHELBY COUNTY HEALTH CARE CORP., Defendant-Appellant is a workers' compensation case decided in Court of Appeals of Tennessee. This case addresses legal issues related to compensation claims, benefits, and court rulings.
It is commonly referenced in legal research involving workers' compensation laws in Court of Appeals of Tennessee.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
Plaintiff Cassandra Hughlett underwent a cesarean section in 1991, during which a surgical sponge was negligently left in her abdomen, causing severe pain and requiring further hospitalisation for its removal. She subsequently filed a medical malpractice suit against Shelby County Health Care Corporation and Regional Medical Center at Memphis, alleging negligence. After reaching a settlement on other matters, the sole remaining issue for decision was whether Hughlett could recover $6,777.17 in medical expenses paid by the Tennessee Medicaid program from the defendants. The trial court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, a decision which was appealed by Shelby County Health Care Corporation. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, citing the precedent set in Nance by Nance v. Westside Hosp. It concluded that because Medicaid payments carry a right of subrogation for the state, the plaintiff's losses were not "replaced or indemnified" under T.C.A. § 29-26-119, thus making the benefits recoverable from the tortfeasors.
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