Plough, Inc. v. Premier Pneumatics, Inc.
This case involves the interpretation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-914 (now § 50-6-112), which governs actions against third parties liable for an employee's injury when workers' compensation benefits are paid. The core issue is whether an employer, after the one-year statute of limitations for the employee, has an additional six-month period to sue alleged tortfeasors not initially pursued by the injured employee, especially when the employee has sued some but not all potentially liable third parties. The trial court's decision, which prevented the employer from maintaining such a suit, was reversed. The appellate court held that the statute grants the employer a six-month window to sue any alleged tortfeasor not previously sued by the employee, affirming the legislative intent to place the financial burden on the wrongdoer and benefit both employer and employee.