Maker of Automated External Defibrillator Not Liable for Fitness Facility Death, Tenn. High Court Rules

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The maker of an automated external defibrillator is not liable to the estate of a man who died at a church-owned fitness facility because the facility was not statutorily obligated to use the AED and therefore the manufacturer had no third-party liability, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled.

In a Dec. 23 opinion, the state high court explained that while Tennessee encourages such facilities to have AEDs on hand, it does not require the use of such devices, and there can be no liability against the AED manufacturer.

On Aug. 20, 2011, Jerry Wallis participated in an …