Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamNASHVILLE – Tennesseans will find it harder to sue companies that break new state laws unless the statute expressly gives them that right under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.
The bill is among a dozen or so bills signed into law by Haslam.
The lawsuit legislation, sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Collierville, says that in the absence of express permission in the statute, courts cannot construe or interpret such a right.
Kelsey’s proposal doesn’t apply to private rights of action that have been previously recognized by courts. It also doesn’t impair a court’s ability to allow lawsuits if a claim is based on common law.
The law also doesn’t prohibit courts from considering outright negligence. Nor does it impact governments’ ability to collect or recover fees owed for services.