NASHVILLE — A proposal to place caps on damages in lawsuits against nursing homes has failed in a House subcommittee.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol deadlocked along party lines in a vote in the House Civil Practice Subcommittee on Tuesday. Bills need to gain a majority vote to advance.

The proposal was denounced as the "Kill Old People Cheap Act" by Rep. Henry Fincher, a Cookeville Democrat who voted against the bill.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican, had made imposing limits on malpractice lawsuits against nursing homes one of his top priorities for the session.

The companion bill has been awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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