Browse recent court opinions from the Tennessee Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Tennessee Supreme Court Affirms Disbarment of Attorney
Elliott J. Schuchardt v. Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintif...
Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Vehicle Search Based on Probable Cause
State of Tennessee v. Ronald Matthew Lacy, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision to...
Town of Nolensville's Denial of Rezoning Request Upheld by Appeals Court
This case involves a dispute between CCD Oldsmith Henry, LLC (the developer) and the Town of Nolensville regarding a proposed residential development. The developer sought to build 100 homes on a 30-a...
County's Zoning Denial Upheld Against Developer's Challenge
This case involves a dispute between Tinsley Properties, LLC, a real estate developer, and Grundy County, Tennessee, regarding a zoning change. Tinsley Properties sought to develop a property and requ...
Court orders Southern Advanced Materials to pay Berkeley Research Group for consulting services.
This case involves a dispute between Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG) and Southern Advanced Materials, LLC (SAM) over a contract. BRG had provided consulting services to SAM, and SAM allegedly faile...
Pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against Peoplease, LLC can proceed to trial
This case involves Jo Carol Edwards, who sued her former employer, Peoplease, LLC, alleging that she was fired because she was pregnant. Edwards claimed this was a violation of the Tennessee Human Rig...
Court Upholds Dismissal of Former Employee's Lawsuit Against Tractor Supply
This case involves a former employee, Brian Coblentz, who sued Tractor Supply Company after his termination. Coblentz alleged that his termination was a result of retaliation for reporting safety viol...
Former Tennessee Corrections Employee's Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against Governor Lee Dismissed
This case involves Gary Wygant, a former employee of the Tennessee Department of Correction, who sued Governor Bill Lee and other state officials. Wygant alleged that he was wrongfully terminated and ...
Former Tennessee Employee's Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against Governor Lee Dismissed
This case involves Gary Wygant, a former employee of the Tennessee Department of Correction, who sued Governor Bill Lee and other state officials. Wygant alleged that he was wrongfully terminated and ...
Court Upholds Dismissal of Former Employee's Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Lawsuit Against Governor
This case involves Gary Wygant, a former employee of the Tennessee Department of Correction, who sued Governor Bill Lee and other state officials. Wygant alleged that he was wrongfully terminated and ...
Former employee fails to prove wrongful termination based on refusal to engage in illegal activities
This case involves a former employee, Alan C. Cartwright, who sued his former employer, Thomason Hendrix, P.C., alleging that the firm wrongfully terminated his employment. Cartwright claimed he was f...
Court Rules Against Former Employee in Sex Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit
Alice Cartwright Garner sued her former employer, Thomason, Hendrix, Harvey, Johnson & Mitchell, PLLC, alleging that the law firm discriminated against her based on her sex and retaliated against her ...
Court Rules Against Former Employee's Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against CHI Memorial Healthcare System
This case involves Lella Yvonne Graham, a former employee of CHI Memorial Healthcare System. Graham alleged that her employer discriminated against her based on her race and retaliated against her for...
Court Rules in Favor of Malibu Boats, LLC in Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract Case
This case involves a dispute between Brett W. Houghton and Malibu Boats, LLC. Houghton, a former employee, sued Malibu Boats alleging wrongful termination and breach of contract. He claimed that the c...
Court partially allows retaliation claim to proceed, dismisses discrimination claims
This case involves a dispute over the termination of an employee, Ashley Denson, by Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. Ms. Denson alleged that her termination was a result of discrimination based ...
Court Orders Pension Fund to Grant Disability Benefits to Former Firefighter
Matthew Long sued the Chattanooga Fire and Police Pension Fund, alleging that the Fund wrongly denied him disability benefits. Long, a former firefighter, claimed he was unable to perform his duties d...
Appellate court allows evidence from cell phone search in child abuse case
This case involves Ambreia Washington, who was charged with aggravated child abuse. The State of Tennessee appealed a lower court's decision to suppress evidence obtained from Washington's cell phone....
Appellate court rules cell phone evidence in child abuse case was lawfully obtained
This case involves Ambreia Washington, who was charged with aggravated child abuse. The State of Tennessee appealed a lower court's decision to suppress evidence obtained from Washington's cell phone....
Tennessee Supreme Court Suspends Lawyer's License for Mismanagement of Client Funds and Communication Failures
This case involves James B. Johnson, a lawyer, who was disciplined by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. The Board found that Johnson had violated ethical rule...
Court Rules Against Former Correctional Officer in Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Lawsuit
This case involves a former correctional officer, Byron Black, who sued his employer, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), and its Commissioner, Frank Strada. Black alleged that he was wrong...
Tennessee Supreme Court Rules State Employee's Termination Was Not Retaliatory
This case involves a dispute over whether Shanessa Sokolosky, a former employee of the State of Tennessee, was wrongfully terminated. Sokolosky claimed she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexua...
Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Murder Conviction of Pervis Tyrone Payne
This case involves a man, Pervis Tyrone Payne, who was convicted of first-degree murder and felony murder for the stabbing deaths of his girlfriend, Charisse Christian, and her son, Nicholas Payne. Th...
Medical Malpractice: Expert Testimony Insufficient for Causation
Payton Castillo v. David Lloyd Rex, M.D., decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on May 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Payton Castillo, sued the defendant, Dr. David Lloyd Re...
Appellate Court Affirms Division of Retirement Account in Divorce
Vanessa Colley v. John S. Colley. III, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Tennessee Court of Appeals addressed a dispute over the division o...
Appellate Court Modifies Property Division in Divorce Case
Vanessa Colley v. John S. Colley. III (Concurring in part), decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April 29, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the equitable distribut...
Court Affirms Denial of Emergency Care Claims Under Prudent Layperson Standard
Emergency Medical Care Facilities, P.C. v. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a disp...
Arbitration Agreement Enforceable, Wrongful Death Suit Dismissed
Annie J. Jones, by and through her conservatorship, Joyce Sons a/k/a Calisa Joyce Sons v. Life Care Centers of America d/b/a Life Care Center of Tullahoma, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on April ...
Court Upholds Insurer's Denial of Medical Treatment Coverage
Heather Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on March 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns whether BlueCross BlueShield of Tennes...
BCBST Denied Medically Necessary Scoliosis Treatment; Court Reverses
Heather Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (Concurring), decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on March 26, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns whether BlueCross BlueShi...
Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Attorney Disbarment for Professional Misconduct
Daryl A. Gray v. Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, decided by Tennessee Supreme Court on March 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Daryl...