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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
September 6, 2006 Session

CATHY L. CHAPMAN, ET AL. V. RICK J. BEARFIELD
Appeal by permission from the Court of Appeals, Eastern Section
Circuit Court for Washington County
No. 8999 Jean A. Stanley, Judge

No. E2004-02596-SC-R11-CV - Filed on November 6, 2006
We accepted this appeal to clarify whether experts testifying in legal malpractice cases must be familiar with a single, statewide professional standard of care or a standard of care for a particular locality within the state.  Because we hold that a single, statewide professional standard of care exists for attorneys practicing in Tennessee, expert witnesses testifying in legal malpractice cases must be familiar with the statewide professional standard. The judgment of the Court of Appeals is affirmed. We remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Tenn. R. App. P. 11; Judgment of the Court of Appeals Affirmed; Remanded
CORNELIA A. CLARK, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which WILLIAM M. BARKER, C.J., and JANICE M. HOLDER, GARY R. WADE, JJ., and E. RILEY ANDERSON, SP.J., joined.
Jason W. Blackburn, Johnson City, Tennessee, for the appellant, Rick J. Bearfield.
John J. Bandeian, Bristol, Tennessee, for the appellees, Cathy L. Chapman, Brandon M. Chapman, Kaylan L. Chapman, and Dana L. Chapman.
OPINION

BACKGROUND
Cathy L. Chapman and other members of the Chapman family (

Download ChapmanCOPN.pdf

Tennessee Law