ÿWPCK ÍfOlRÊ eLʤÐÇ,(MþcµFæ‚mÔ!ÍŽŠA'W{Ü{˜ÓûH"!2·ŠV:$ùðv"ĉ«³ H3–b¢éx˜IYúBev1àöÍzžáOœ¶¥¦l`\án5C䯤î*Ê·ÿ2Ÿ¥4PûŒ %<ŸT%æãn8¹‚#"Ëí;x’Ñ`×­¸ ‚بñ zÄnÂvhys£¿b 6 o5Gò îqvXÔgËO½&{x ýü¬©>¨K³€PP'†rK¡Ì=—Õâ– èh®Óhïm`?žºavRÕ¤?cš€ÂKorÝ÷àVÑqàíˆ*Žx7k æêvžÓo¾Ǫ̂á;È7—’µ§žŸqÌ$Jʤš[·6/ú­;uÓáä ÅSØ|rÁB†¨DIÔ‡÷dcx•V:}.J4¡H ›3YøZI¥%C€ùïò[ÓM«Íâô.¬°#˜MgýPs{bÎO‘ ÏJjíÿ°oàIxå2k¬†60‡½¬f²Nzky乚´«ñöz¬>º “H,lÂÚIÎ#ÿüJTIcý;h§ ÀÊðŒAC£Ã€ ‹žØª;®´ /hú|¹ú@X˜—'(#Á %Ï ^ Õ 0ˆá UNi w· 4» zÏ ÒI  * m, C ÆK ÆÆ×ÆªcN  0DSEããããããããããããããããããããããããbåååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååå 0ëíííí BØØ 0¤õ D3™ D-Ì 0Kùù A\DÆ  0¤f 0D  A«NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN D5ù B.˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»l€+s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular-C +LÛŸ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5  Ý ƒRåÈ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôð=ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€No€default€judgment€was€entered€in€the€case€prior€to€the€November€22,€2000€answer€filed€on€behalf€of€bothÐ ° ÐDefendants.€€For€this€reason,€the€trial€court€denied€default€judgment€to€Plaintiff.€€Default€judgment€is€not€mandatoryÐ tÄ Ðunder€Rule€55.01€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€and€Rule€55.02€the€answer€of€Defendants,€filed€nine€daysÐ 8ˆ Ðafter€the€default€judgment€certificate€was€filed,€shows€a€meritorious€defense.€€Both€the€answer€of€Defendants€and€theirÐ üL Ðmotion€for€summary€judgment€were€filed€before€any€hearing€on€the€issue€of€default€judgment.€€The€trial€court€did€notÐ À Ðerr€in€overruling€the€application€for€default€judgment.€€òòCreed€v.€Valentineóó,€967€S.W.2d€325€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997).€(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó †Ý ƒRåÈ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôð=ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€This€is€a€Ô_ÔmiscodificationÔ_Ô.€€Section€14€of€Chapter€299€of€the€Public€Acts€of€1975€actually€provides:€ð ð(1)€TheÐ ° Ðrecognized€standard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€the€profession€and€the€specialty€thereof,€if€any,€that€theÐ tÄ Ðdefendant€practices€in€the€community€in€which€òòheóó€practices€or€in€a€similar€community€at€the€time€the€alleged€injury€orÐ 8ˆ Ðwrongful€action€occurred;ðð€(emphasis€added).€€Ð üL ÐÌ- ù-(|G2åÈ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H•»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôð=ò»»Ô d(|3 >$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H•»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`Nþÿ<<Cÿÿ xdðƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3 >$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H•»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK€€€€)ûÿ!dxdxüÿP PdÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H•»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼H•»»»ÔÑ8€©XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îVÄH•ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼H•»îîVÄ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Ó€Assigned€on€Briefs€May€31,€2001Ð üL ÐÔ‡X©X»¼H•ÔÌò òÔ#†¼H•»XX©ý#ÔDANNY€RAY€THOMASòòóó€v.€DR.€MOLLY€P.€OððTOOLE,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X©X»¼H•Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€00C„2531€€€€€€Hamilton€V.€Ô_ÔGaydenÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€Judge€Ð æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„00305„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€August€22,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓAppellant,€Danny€Ray€Thomas,€a€prison€inmate,€brought€suit€against€two€medical€doctors,€Molly€P.Ð xÈ  ÐOððToole€and€Donald€J.€Ô_ÔBoatrightÔ_Ô,€on€September€1,€2000€alleging€various€acts€of€malpractice.€€OnÐ d´ ÐNovember€9,€2000,€Plaintiff€sought€a€default€judgment.€€On€November€15,€2000,€counsel€forÐ P  ÐDefendants€made€his€appearance€and,€on€November€22,€2000,€answered€the€complaint.€€BothÐ <Œ ÐDefendants€filed€motions€for€summary€judgment,€which€motions€were€granted€by€the€trial€court.€Ð (x ÐPlaintiff€appealed,€and€after€consideration,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€Ð d ÐÓìÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó ó€Ð ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼H•»àX©‚#ÔÔ‡X©X.¼H•ÔWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòóóWòòILLIAM€óóC.€KòòOCHóó,€JòòR.óó€andÐ È ÐPòòATRICIAóó€J.€CòòOTTRELLóó,€JJ.òòóó,€joined.Ð ´ ÐÌDanny€Ray€Thomas,€Clifton,€Tennessee,€Pro€Se.Ð ŒÜ ÐÌGeorge€A.€Dean,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Dr.€Molly€P.€OððToole€and€Dr.€Donald€J.Ð d´ ÐBoatright.Ð P   ÐÓ<ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼H•»XX©k#ÔÔ‡X©X»¼H•ÔÐ ("x! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼H•»XX©x #ÔÔ‡X©X»¼H•ÔÓ  Óà  àOn€September€1,€2000,€Plaintiff/Appellant,€Danny€Ray€Thomas,€acting€Pro€Se,€filed€suitÐ $P# Ðagainst€Dr.€Molly€P.€OððToole€and€Dr.€Donald€Boatright€seeking€$750,000€in€compensatory€damagesÐ ì$< $ Ðand€$250,000€in€punitive€damages.€€Plaintiff€alleged,€in€substance,€that€Dr.€OððToole€refused€to€giveÐ Ø%(!% Ðhim€any€medication€for€stress€and€that€Dr.€Boatright€had€not€given€him€appropriate€treatment€forÐ Ä&"& Ðkidney€stones.€Ð °'#' Ðâ âÐ œ(ì#(ýB Ðà  àOn€November€13,€2000,€Plaintiff€filed€a€default€judgment€certificate€pursuant€to€the€localÐ ° Ðrules€in€Davidson€County€but€did€not€file€a€motion€for€default€judgment.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€November€15,€2000,Ð œì Ðâ âcounsel€Ô#†¼H•»XX©Ö #ÔÔ€X©X»¼H•Ôfor€Defendants€made€his€appearance€and,€on€November€22,€2000€filed€an€answer€on€behalfÐ ˆØ Ðof€both€Dr.€OððToole€and€Dr.€Boatright.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àOn€November€28,€2000,€Defendants€filed€their€motion€for€summary€judgment€based€uponÐ L œ Ðthe€affidavit€of€Dr.€Ô_ÔBoatrightÔ_Ô,€which€stated€that€neither€of€the€Defendants€had€violated€the€recognizedÐ 8 ˆ Ðstandards€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€community€and€similarÐ $ t Ðcommunities€in€their€treatment€of€Mr.€Thomas.€€His€affidavit€asserted€his€familiarity€with€suchÐ  ` Ðrecognized€standards€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€both€psychiatry€and€internal€medicineÐ ü L  Ðin€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€community,€where€all€of€the€treatment€by€both€doctors€was€done.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€affidavit€of€Dr.€Boatright€details€the€treatment€administered€both€by€himself€and€Dr.Ð À  ÐOððToole€from€the€time€Plaintiff€arrived€at€the€SPR„Middle€Tennessee€Correctional€Complex€inÐ ¬ü  ÐNashville€on€April€1,€1999€until€the€filing€of€suit€in€this€case.€€He€was€treated€for€complaints€ofÐ ˜è  Ðextreme€pain€and€allegations€of€kidney€stones.€€The€treatment€was€periodic€through€the€end€ofÐ „Ô  ÐJanuary€of€2000.€€The€affidavit€states€in€part:Ð pÀ ÐÌà8  àà ` à15.à ¸ àI€am€familiar€with€the€recognized€standards€of€acceptable€professionalÐ H˜ Ðpractice€in€my€specialty,€internal€medicine,€in€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€communityÐ 4„ Ðand€similar€communities€as€it€existed€during€the€time€I€was€involved€in€the€care€ofÐ  p ÐMr.€Thomas.€€In€everything€that€I€did€in€the€care€and€treatment€of€Mr.€Thomas,€IÐ  \ Ðcomplied€with€the€recognized€standard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€myÐ øH Ðspecialty€in€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€community€and€similar€communities.€€InÐ ä4 Ðaddition,€nothing€that€I€did€or€didnððt€do€caused€any€injury€to€Mr.€Thomas.ÐÐ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€affidavit€of€Dr.€Boatright€further€establishes€that€he€had€reviewed€the€medical€recordsÐ ¨ø Ðof€Mr.€Thomas€relating€to€the€treatment€undertaken€by€Dr.€OððToole€relative€to€psychiatric€problemsÐ ”ä Ðincluding€prescriptive€medication€abuse€and€anxiety.€€He€further€asserted:Ð €Ð ÐÌà8  àà ` à25.à ¸ àI€am€familiar€with€the€recognized€standards€of€acceptable€professionalÐ X ¨ Ðpractice€in€the€specialty€of€psychiatry,€in€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€community€andÐ D!” Ðsimilar€communities€as€it€existed€during€the€time€Dr.€OððToole€was€involved€in€theÐ 0"€  Ðcare€of€Mr.€Thomas.€€She€complied€with€the€recognized€standard€of€acceptableÐ #l! Ðprofessional€practice€in€that€specialty€in€the€Nashville,€Tennessee€community€andÐ $X" Ðsimilar€communities€in€the€care€and€treatment€of€the€patient.€In€addition,€nothing€sheÐ ô$D # Ðdid€or€did€not€do€caused€any€injury€to€Mr.€Thomas.Ðà%0!$Ð Ð  Їà  àIn€Tennessee,€in€order€to€prevail€in€a€malpractice€action,€a€plaintiff€must€sustain€his€burdenÐ ° Ðunder€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€29„26„115.€€This€statute€provides€in€pertinent€part:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àà ` à(a)€€€In€a€malpractice€action,€the€claimant€shall€have€the€burden€of€proving€byÐ tÄ Ðevidence€as€provided€by€subsection€(b):Ð`°Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(1)€The€recognized€standard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€theÐ L œ Ðprofession€and€the€specialty€thereof,€if€any,€that€the€defendant€practices€in€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðcommunity€in€which€the€claimant׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€practices€or€in€a€similar€community€at€the€time€theÐ $ t Ðalleged€injury€or€wrongful€action€occurred;Ð `Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(2)€That€the€defendant€acted€with€less€than€or€failed€to€act€with€ordinary€andÐ ü L  Ðreasonable€care€in€accordance€with€such€standard;€andÐè 8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(3)€As€a€proximate€result€of€the€defendantððs€negligent€act€or€omission,€theÐ Ô$  Ðplaintiff€suffered€injuries€which€would€not€otherwise€have€occurred.ÐÀ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(b)€No€person€in€a€health€care€profession€requiring€licensure€under€the€lawsÐ ¬ü  Ðof€this€state€shall€be€competent€to€testify€in€any€court€of€law€to€establish€the€factsÐ ˜è  Ðrequired€to€be€established€by€subsection€(a),€unless€the€person€was€licensed€toÐ „Ô  Ðpractice€in€the€state€or€a€contiguous€bordering€state€a€profession€or€specialty€whichÐ pÀ Ðwould€make€the€personððs€expert€testimony€relevant€to€the€issues€in€the€case€and€hadÐ \¬ Ðpracticed€this€profession€or€specialty€in€one€(1)€of€these€states€during€the€yearÐ H˜ Ðpreceding€the€date€that€the€alleged€injury€or€wrongful€act€occurred.€€This€rule€shallÐ 4„ Ðapply€to€expert€witnesses€testifying€for€the€defendant€as€rebuttal€witnesses.€€The€courtÐ  p Ðmay€waive€this€subsection€when€it€determines€that€the€appropriate€witnessesÐ  \ Ðotherwise€would€not€be€available.ÐøHÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„26„115€(2000).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àGenerally,€this€burden€can€only€be€established€by€expert€testimony.€€Only€in€cases€where€theÐ ¨ø Ðalleged€act€of€malpractice€lies€within€the€common€knowledge€of€a€layman€is€expert€testimonyÐ ”ä Ðunnecessary.€€òòBaldwin€v.€Knightóó,€569€S.W.2d€450€(Tenn.€1978).€€Proper€treatment€of€alleged€painÐ €Ð Ðresulting€from€kidney€stones€and€appropriate€drug€therapy€for€stress€and€anxiety€are€obviously€notÐ l¼ Ðmatters€within€the€knowledge€of€a€layman€and€expert€testimony€is€necessary.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àWhile€it€is€true€that€summary€judgment€is€generally€inappropriate€in€professional€malpracticeÐ 0"€  Ðcases,€if€the€only€issue€is€one€which€requires€expert€testimony€and€there€is€no€expert€response€to€anÐ #l! Ðaffidavit€by€an€expert,€then€summary€judgment€is€proper.€€òòBowman€v.€Ô_ÔHenardÔ_Ôóó,€547€S.W.2d€527Ð $X" Ð(Tenn.€1977);€òòAyers€v.€Rutherford€Hospital,€Inc.óó,€689€S.W.2d€155€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ð ô$D # ÐÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àAppellant€complains€that€the€trial€court€should€not€have€relied€on€the€ð ðuntrustworthy€opinionÐ ° Ðaffidavitðð€of€Dr.€Ô_ÔBoatrightÔ_Ô€because€he€was€one€of€the€defendants.€€We€are€dealing€with€TennesseeÐ œì ÐCode€Annotated€section€29„26„115,€which€requires,€under€the€facts€in€this€case,€that€PlaintiffÐ ˆØ Ðestablish€by€expert€testimony€the€necessary€standard€of€care€and€the€deviation€by€DefendantÐ tÄ Ðtherefrom.€€It€is€common€practice€to€accept€the€affidavit€of€Defendant€stating€his€position€in€supportÐ `° Ðof€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€thereby€shifting€to€the€plaintiff€the€duty€of€coming€forth€withÐ L œ Ðcountervailing€expert€testimony.€€òòSmith€v.€Gravesóó,€672€S.W.2d€787,€789„90€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Ô_Ô1984).Ô_ÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àDr.€Boatright€was€a€specialist€in€internal€medicine.€€He€was€not€a€specialist€in€psychiatry,€butÐ  ` Ðhis€affidavit€exonerates€the€psychiatrist,€Dr.€OððToole,€from€any€violation€of€applicable€standards€ofÐ ü L  Ðprofessional€practice.€€The€Supreme€Court€of€Tennessee€has€held:Ð è 8  ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€statute€contains€no€requirement€that€the€witness€practice€the€sameÐ À  Ðspecialty€as€the€defendant.€€The€issue€at€trial€was€whether€the€defendantððsÐ ¬ü  Ðperformance€in€attempting€to€prevent€the€surgical€wound€infection€and€in€treating€itÐ ˜è  Ðafter€it€developed€was€negligent.€€Dr.€Stratton€stated€that€he€was€familiar€with€theÐ „Ô  Ðapplicable€standards€of€surgeons€in€the€prevention€and€treatment€of€surgical€woundÐ pÀ Ðinfections,€and€his€testimony€supports€that€statement.€€His€expert€testimony€was,Ð \¬ Ðtherefore,€relevant€to€the€issues€in€the€case.€€For€that€reason,€he€was€competent€toÐ H˜ Ðtestify€as€to€those€standards,€even€though€he€was€not€himself€a€surgeon.Ð4„Ð Ð  ÐÌòòSearle€v.€Bryantóó,€713€S.W.2d€62,€65€(Tenn.€1986).Ð  \ ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€the€affidavit€of€Dr.€Boatright€requires€an€affidavit€from€an€expert€for€the€plaintiffÐ ä4 Ðin€order€to€avoid€summary€judgment.€€òòBowmanóó,€547€S.W.2d€527.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€efforts€to€comply€with€the€mandates€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€29„26„115,Ð ¨ø ÐPlaintiff€presented€the€affidavits€of€Dr.€Gulla€Krishna€and€Dr.€Allen€Craig,€physicians€practicing€inÐ ”ä ÐCoffee€County,€Tennessee€who€had€previously€treated€the€appellant.€€However,€neither€affidavit€isÐ €Ð Ðsufficient€under€the€statute.€€Neither€Dr.€Krishna€nor€Dr.€Craig€assert€any€familiarity€with€theÐ l¼ Ðrecognized€standard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€Nashville,€Tennessee.€€Neither€affidavitÐ X ¨ Ðasserts€that€either€Dr.€Boatright€or€Dr.€Ô_ÔOððTooleÔ_Ô€ð ðacted€with€less€than€or€failed€to€act€with€ordinaryÐ D!” Ðand€reasonable€care€in€accordance€with€such€standard.ðð€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„26„115(a)(2).Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àThe€record€before€the€court€reflects€that€Plaintiff€cannot€prove€essential€elements€of€his€case,Ð $X" Ðto€wit:€€€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ1.à0  àThe€recognized€standard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€Nashville,€Tennessee,€or€aÐ Ì&"% Ðsimilar€community;€andи'#&(#(# ÐÌ2.à0  àThat€the€defendants€acted€or€failed€to€act€in€accordance€with€such€standards.Ð)à$((#(# Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) ÐThis€failure€is€fatal€to€the€case€of€the€appellant€on€a€summary€judgment€motion.€€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847Ð ° Ðâ âS.W.2d€208€(Tenn.€1993).Ð œì ÐÌà  àThe€inadequacy€of€the€appellantððs€proof€in€the€face€of€a€summary€judgment€motion€isÐ tÄ Ðdemonstrated€in€the€analogous€case€of€òòMabon€v.€Jackson„Madison€County€Gen.€Hosp.óó,€968€S.W.2dÐ `° Ð826€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997).€€In€that€case,€the€plaintiff€presented€an€expert€who€had€no€familiarity€withÐ L œ Ðthe€standard€of€care€for€Jackson,€Tennessee€or€similar€communities,€but€simply€testified€that€aÐ 8 ˆ Ðnational€standard€applied€and€would€be€the€same€in€any€community.€€In€rejecting€the€position€of€theÐ $ t Ðplaintiff,€this€Court€observed:Ð  ` ÐÌà8  àà ` àMabon€contends€that€he€has€met€that€threshold€and€that€this€case€isÐ è 8  Ðdistinguishable€from€òòAyersóó€and€òòOsleróó€because€there€was€evidence€in€those€cases€thatÐ Ô$  Ðthe€standards€of€care€were€different€and€that€there€is€no€proof€in€this€case€that€theÐ À  Ðstandard€of€care€in€Jackson,€Tennessee€is€different€from€that€propounded€by€Dr.Ð ¬ü  ÐShane.€€He€argues€that€once€Dr.€Shane€set€forth€his€opinion€that€the€national€standardÐ ˜è  Ðof€care€is€the€same€as€the€standard€of€care€in€Jackson,€the€burden€then€shifted€to€Dr.Ð „Ô  ÐThomas€to€set€forth€a€different€standard€of€care€for€Jackson.ÐpÀÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWe€respectfully€disagree€with€this€contention.€€It€is€the€plaintiff€who€isÐ H˜ Ðcharged€with€the€burden€of€proof€as€to€the€standard€of€care€in€the€community€inÐ 4„ Ðwhich€the€defendant€practices€or€in€a€similar€community.€€T.C.A.€ðð€29„26„115(a)(1).€Ð  p ÐA€plaintiff€who€chooses€to€prove€the€standard€of€care€in€a€similar€communityÐ  \ Ðnecessarily€must€prove€that€community€is€similar€to€the€one€in€which€the€defendantÐ øH Ðpractices.€€To€shift€this€burden€to€the€defendant€directly€contradicts€the€plain€languageÐ ä4 Ðof€the€statute€and€would€render€the€statute€a€nullity.€€Under€the€principles€of€summaryÐ Ð  Ðjudgment,€once€Dr.€Thomas€moved€for€summary€judgment€and€submitted€an€affidavitÐ ¼  Ðstating€that€he€complied€with€the€standard€of€care€in€Jackson,€the€burden€then€shiftedÐ ¨ø Ðto€Mabon€to€set€forth€specific€facts€that€Dr.€Thomas€failed€to€meet€the€standard€ofÐ ”ä Ðcare€in€Jackson€or€a€similar€community.ЀÐÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àIn€this€case,€Dr.€Shaneððs€deposition€testimony€leads€us€to€conclude€that€he€isÐ X ¨ Ðnot€familiar€with€the€standard€of€care€in€Jackson,€Tennessee.€€Moreover,€we€cannotÐ D!” Ðaccept€Dr.€Shaneððs€bare€assertion€that€the€standard€of€care€in€Jackson€is€the€sameÐ 0"€  Ðnationwide€and€that€the€level€of€care€with€which€Dr.€Shane€is€familiar€òòshouldóó€haveÐ #l! Ðbeen€available€in€Jackson.€€This€does€not€comply€with€the€nonmoving€partyððs€burdenÐ $X" Ðon€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€to€set€forth€specific€facts.€€From€our€review€of€theÐ ô$D # Ðrecord,€Dr.€Shane€simply€failed€to€establish€that€he€had€knowledge€of€the€requisiteÐ à%0!$ Ðstandard€of€care€in€Jackson,€Tennessee€or€in€a€similar€community.ÐÌ&"%Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWithout€evidence€as€to€the€standard€of€care€in€Jackson€or€in€a€similarÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcommunity,€Mabon€cannot€demonstrate€any€breach€of€duty€to€Mrs.€Mabon.€€òòSeeÐ )à$( ÐCardwellóó,€724€S.W.2d€at€754.€€Mabon€therefore€failed€to€carry€the€burdens€placed€onÐ |*Ì%) Ðhim€by€T.C.A.€ðð€29„26„115.€€As€such,€there€was€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact,Ð h+¸&* Ðand€Dr.€Thomas€was€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€The€trial€court€correctlyÐ ° Ðgranted€summary€judgment€to€Dr.€Thomas.МìÐ Ð  ÐÌòòÔ_ÔMabonÔ_Ôóó,€968€S.W.2d€826,€831.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€was€correct€in€granting€summary€judgment€to€Defendants,€and€the€judgmentÐ L œ Ðof€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àCosts€of€this€cause€are€assessed€against€Appellant.à p àòòóóÐ  ` ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð À  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE