TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Apr 8, 2021

The Tennessee House of Representatives today passed legislation that would take state cases away from Nashville courts, the Nashville Post reports. House Bill 1196/Senate Bill 454 (HB1196/SB454), sponsored by Bone McAllester Norton attorney Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, was approved by the House in a 69-21 vote. It would move original jurisdiction for lawsuits against the state to the plaintiff’s home county. If plaintiffs are located outside the state, the case would be filed in Sumner County. Asked why he picked his home county for out-of-state cases, Garrett said, “The question should be why not.” The bill comes after the Republican-dominated legislature criticized a number of decisions by Nashville judges in state cases and after a failed attempt to remove Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle earlier this session.