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TJC cases

John B. v. Goetz

This class action settlement was filed and settled the same day in 1998. It protects the health care of 665,000 children.  The settlement is based upon and incorporates a federal law that promises children regular check-ups and the health care they need to reach their potential. <more>

Grier v. Goetz

Previously known as Daniels v. Wadley, this case produced a landmark 1996 ruling on the right of Medicaid patients to contest denials of care by their managed care plans. However, TennCare and its private contractors refused to fully implement the order, and subsequent negotiations failed to bring about compliance. This case vividly demonstrates the necessity of ongoing advocacy for the poor, even after they win in court. <more>

Newberry v. Goetz

When disabled and medically fragile people cannot get home health care, they must either continue to live in their homes with grave risk to their health, or be consigned to institutions away from their homes, families and communities. TJC filed this federal class action suit to challenge Tennessee’s policies and practices which condemn people with disabilities to lives of wasteful, inhumane and needless institutionalization in nursing homes. <more>

Rosen v. Goetz

In this case, TJC proved that TennCare and its contractors had routinely failed to credit families’ premium payments, had terminated tens of thousands of eligible families due to computer glitches or defective databases, and had a backlog of several years’ worth of applications that had never been processed. <more>

Linton v. Commissioner

Linton v. Commissioner, 779 F. Supp. 925 (M.D. Tenn. 1990), affd. on other grounds 65 F3d 508 (6th Cir. 1995), cert. den. sub. nom. St. Peter Villa v. Linton, 517 U.S 1155 (1996) – TJC successfully defended on appeal a landmark ruling requiring the desegregation of Tennessee’s nursing homes. To read more about this case, see the study, "A New Strategy To Combat Racial Inequality In American Health Care Delivery," page 812. Click here to see the study.

Madison-Hughes v. Shalala

Madison-Hughes v. Shalala, 80 F.3d 1121 (6th Cir. 1996) – This case was dismissed on technical jurisdictional grounds, but not before it had mobilized a national advocacy effort that prompted the government to open federal health data to researchers probing the causes of racial disparities in health care and health status.

Doe v. HCA Health Services of Tennessee, Inc.
d/b/a HCA Donelson Hospital

Doe v. HCA Health Services of Tennessee, Inc., d/b/a HCA Donelson Hospital, 46 S.W. 3d 191 (Tenn. 2001) – This landmark consumer protection ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court protects the uninsured form unfair hospital pricing practices.

Winkler v. Interim Healthcare

Winkler v. Interim HealthCare, 36 F. Supp. 2d 1026 (M.D. Tenn. 1999) – This ruling established an important precedent allowing Medicare patients to sue health care companies to enforce federal quality of care standards.

Doe v. Word

Doe v. Word, No. 3-84-1260 (M.D. Tenn. 1999) – TJC successfully enforced a class action injunction protecting nursing home residents from arbitrary eviction.

Christoper B. v. Premier Behavioral Health Systems of Tennessee

Christopher B. v. Premier Behavioral Health Systems of Tennessee, No. 97C-1818 (Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tenn. 1999) – TJC sued a managed care company for injuries to severely disturbed youth following the company’s arbitrary denial of prescribed treatment. Case concluded with confidential out-of-court settlement.

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