State senators signed off today on a bill to punish someone who brings a lawsuit that gets dismissed as groundless. The proposal would force the loser to pay the other side’s attorney’s fees and court costs, up to $10 thousand.
‘Loser Pays’ Rule for Lawsuits Passes State Senate
TVA Board, Watchdogs to Weigh In on Watts Bar Cost Overruns
The board of the Tennessee Valley Authority will be asked Thursday morning to approve a near-doubling of the budget to complete a second nuclear reactor at Watts Bar. TVA has already spent the $2.5 billion originally projected to finish the East Tennessee power plant.
Mayor Unveils Online Mapping Tool for Disasters
In response to the historic flooding in Nashville two years ago, Metro Government has unveiled an online mapping tool to help residents find their way around during a disaster. City officials believe it could be a national model.
Saint Thomas to Take More Residents from UT
The new partnership means up to a 100 UT residents will be working with Saint Thomas doctors by 2017.
Senate Joins House in Condemning UN’s ‘Agenda 21’
The Tennessee Senate added its voice to the state House in condemning the United Nations’ ‘Agenda 21’ on Tuesday. The program is an environmental initiative meant to encourage sustainable development. A majority of Tennessee lawmakers now describe it as destructive.
Senate Nudges Congress to Return to 19th Century View of ‘Commerce Clause’
Tennessee’s Senate is calling for the state to have more control over its own commerce. The legislators passed a bill Tuesday declaring the 20th century view of the federal Commerce Clause to be unfair to Tennessee.
Anti-Abortion Doctor Regulation Passes Senate
Doctors performing abortions in standalone clinics will have to have admitting privileges in nearby hospitals under a bill that has passed the state Senate.
Governor Leaning Against Foreign Worker Restrictions for Charter Schools
Governor Bill Haslam may be considering the legislative session’s first veto. He says this week he received the final version of a bill that limits the number of foreign workers that a charter school can employ.
State Senator Hospitalized With High Blood Pressure
State Senator Doug Henry has been hospitalized. The Nashville Democrat is the longest-serving current member of the state legislature. A spokesman for senate democrats says the 85-year-old was experiencing higher-than-normal blood pressure, and was lucid and talking with a colleague about the state budget when he left the capitol.
Lawmakers Could Pass Penalty for Frivolous Lawsuits
State lawmakers are close to passing a penalty for frivolous lawsuits. Critics complain it would unfairly discourage poor people from going to court.