Tennessee § 29-22-102 - Perfecting lien — Filing and notice — Contesting — Effect of settlement or payment.

§ 29-22-102. Perfecting lien — Filing and notice — Contesting — Effect of settlement or payment.

In order to perfect such lien, the agent or operator of the hospital, before or within one hundred twenty (120) days after any such person shall have been discharged therefrom, shall file in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the hospital is located, and in the county wherein the patient resides, if a resident of this state, a verified statement in writing setting forth the name and address of the patient as it appears on the records of the hospital, and the name and address of the operator thereof, the dates of admission and discharge of the patient therefrom, the amount claimed to be due for such hospital care, and to the best of the claimant's knowledge, the names and addresses of persons, firms or corporations claimed by such ill or injured person or by such person's legal representative, to be liable for damages arising from such illness or injuries. A copy of the claim shall, within ten (10) days from the filing thereof be sent by registered mail, postage prepaid, to each person, firm or corporation so claimed to be liable on account of such illness or injuries, at the address given in the statement, and to the attorney, or attorneys, representing the person to whom services were rendered by the hospital if such attorney, or attorneys, are known to the claimant or could, with reasonable diligence, be known to the claimant. The filing of the claim shall be notice thereof to all persons, firms or corporations who may be liable on account of such illness or injuries, whether or not they are named in the claim or lien and whether or not a copy of the claim shall have been received by them. Any person desiring to contest such a lien or the reasonableness of the charges thereof may do so by filing a motion to quash or reduce the same in the circuit court of the county in which the lien was perfected, making all other parties in interest respondents thereto. Any such motion may be heard in term time or vacation and at such time and place as may be fixed by order of the court. If at the time an insurance carrier or other person, corporation or entity reaches a settlement and obtains a release of liability on or pays a claim filed by a policyholder or other person against such carrier, person, corporation or other entity, the hospital providing treatment to such policyholder or person has not perfected a lien as set out in this section, any lien perfected subsequent to such settlement or payment shall not apply to or create any additional liability on the part of the insurance carrier or other person, corporation or entity paying the settlement or claim. This subsection (e) shall not apply until thirty (30) days after any such person is discharged from the hospital. Acts 1970, ch. 527, § 2; T.C.A., § 23-3202; Acts 1987, ch. 262, § 1; 1991, ch. 254, § 1. Cross-References. Certified mail in lieu of registered mail, § 1-3-111 . Law Reviews. The Tennessee Hospital Lien Law — A Potential Pitfall for the Unwary (E. Patrick Hull), 35 No. 1 Tenn. B.J. 12 (1999).