CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A federal judge in Knoxville has dismissed lawsuits seeking punitive damages from the Tennessee Valley Authority for the coal ash spill in 2008.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan is allowing a trial on lawsuits that seek compensatory, or actual economic damages.
TVA contends it is immune from damages because it was acting as a government agency.
It's not immediately clear how many of the lawsuits sought punitive damages and how large those claims were. TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said late Friday the utility was declining comment, partly because the ruling is 80 pages long and was being reviewed.
An attorney for some of the hundreds of people suing, Elizabeth Alexander of Nashville, said in an e-mail statement that she was pleased that the lawsuits seeking compensatory damages will be able to move forward.