Federal Tort Claims Act Lawyer in Memphis

More Than 35 Years Serving Memphis, With VA & Military Malpractice Experience

When an injury involves federal medical care, employees, vehicles, or property, the path to compensation differs from an ordinary Tennessee injury claim. Deadlines, defenses, filing requirements, and even the proper defendant may change.

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) provides a limited route for pursuing certain personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage claims caused by federal employees acting within the scope of their employment. Before litigation can begin, a claimant generally must satisfy the government’s administrative requirements.

We represent veterans and military families in medical malpractice matters involving care at VA and military treatment facilities. We can also evaluate whether other injuries involving government activity may fall within the FTCA.

Call (901) 209-5500 to discuss the responsible agency, underlying injury, and deadlines that may affect your claim.

When an FTCA Claim May Apply

A potential claim starts with four questions: what happened, which government activity caused the harm, what injury or loss resulted, and whether sovereign immunity has been waived. Sovereign immunity generally means the government can’t be sued without its consent. The FTCA provides that consent only for qualifying claims.

Incidents that may require an FTCA analysis include:

• Negligent diagnosis, treatment, surgery, or follow-up care at a VA medical center or military treatment facility.
• A collision involving a postal vehicle or another vehicle operated by a federal employee.
• An unsafe condition on property controlled by a federal agency.
• Medical negligence or another injury connected to a federal detention or correctional facility.

The presence of a government employee, vehicle, or facility doesn’t automatically establish liability. A claim generally requires a legal duty, a negligent or wrongful act or omission, causation, and compensable harm under the law of the state where the incident occurred. Statutory exceptions may also limit or exclude recovery.

When a lawsuit is permitted, the United States is generally the defendant rather than the individual employee. Identifying the responsible agency is equally important because the administrative claim must first be submitted to the agency whose activities caused the injury.

Experience With VA & Military Medical Malpractice

Our attorneys have more than 150 years of collective experience, including work involving FTCA medical malpractice and VA benefits proceedings. As a family-run practice, we provide personalized representation while addressing the medical evidence and government procedures these cases require.

We serve clients throughout Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Our confirmed FTCA experience involves medical malpractice at VA and military treatment facilities. For other potential claims, we begin by assessing the government activity, responsible agency, applicable exceptions, and available legal path.

Federal Claims Connected to Memphis

The VA Memphis Healthcare System includes the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center and serves veterans across western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northwestern Arkansas. A Memphis-area claim may turn on where treatment occurred, where a vehicle collision happened, or which agency controlled the property involved.

If an administrative claim proceeds to litigation, federal jurisdiction becomes part of the analysis. The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee has a Western Division in Memphis and hears federal cases arising in western Tennessee.