Date of Final Ruling:
April 7, 2025
Category:
Auto Accident Defense / Summary Judgment / Comparative Fault
Summary:
McLemore Law PLLC obtained a dismissal with prejudice for James Langley after the Court granted summary judgment, finding no competent evidence that Mr. Langley acted negligently in a 2022 collision on Highway 396 in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Although a co-defendant attempted to attribute comparative fault to Mr. Langley, the record did not create a genuine issue of material fact. No appeal was filed.
Description:
Case Name: Jenica Swartz v. Chase Camron Harper and James Christopher Langley
Court: Circuit Court for Maury County, Tennessee at Columbia
Case No.: 17459
This action arose from a March 22, 2022 motor vehicle accident on Highway 396 (Spring Hill). Plaintiff Jenica Swartzinitially sued Chase Camron Harper only. After answering, Mr. Harper asserted comparative fault against James Christopher Langley, alleging Langley was speeding, failed to maintain a proper lookout, acted unreasonably, and failed to avoid the crash. Mr. Harper further suggested Langley suddenly stopped and may have struck Ms. Swartz’s vehicle before Harper contacted Langley.
McLemore Law PLLC was retained to defend James Langley. Following discovery, Mr. Langley moved for summary judgment, arguing that the record contained no evidence of negligent conduct by him. At the April 7, 2025 hearing, Mr. Harper pointed to portions of the record he claimed provided circumstantial evidence of two impacts and that Langley hit Ms. Swartz first. The Court held that there was no competent proof supporting those assertions and no genuine issue of material fact as to Langley’s negligence.
The Court granted summary judgment and dismissed all claims against James Langley with prejudice. No appeal was timely filed.