Louis G. Hataway, Jr., and Freddie D. Hataway, Parents and Next of Kin of Louis G. Hataway, Iii, Deceased, and Louis…

Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court abandoned the lex loci delicti doctrine in tort cases and adopted the 'most significant relationship' approach of the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws §§ 6, 145, 146, and 175. Applying that approach to a wrongful death action arising from a scuba-dive fatality in Arkansas involving two Tennessee residents and a Memphis State University instructor, the court held Tennessee law governs because Arkansas's only contact was the fortuitous place of injury. The Court of Appeals' decision affirming application of Arkansas law was reversed and the case remanded for retrial under Tennessee law.