Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (2026)

Removal of actions - Exceptions

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) At any time at least three (3) or more business days prior to the scheduled trial date of a civil action commenced in general sessions court, any defendant in the action may apply to have the action and all the papers of the action removed to a court having jurisdiction of appeals from courts of general sessions. A case properly removed pursuant to this section shall be tried by the appellate court in the same manner as appeals from general sessions court civil actions are currently tried, except there shall be no default or other judgment entered at the general sessions level, and except that a case removed pursuant to this section shall not be subject to any monetary jurisdictional limit that would have applied in the general sessions court if the case had not been removed.

(b) Any defendant seeking to remove an action pursuant to subsection (a) shall file with the application an affidavit stating that the defendant has a substantial defense to the action and/or that the defendant's defense will be of such a complex or expensive nature that the interests of justice require that the defendant not be required to present the defense at the general sessions level. The affidavit shall state the grounds of the defense and why the affiant believes it to be sufficiently substantial, complex or expensive to merit the removal of the case. The affidavit and application shall also be accompanied by a cost bond sufficient to defray all costs that have accrued prior to the time application for removal is made.

(c)
- (1) If the general sessions judge finds that a defendant's defense is substantial, complex or expensive to present, and that the defendant has posted a sufficient cost bond, the judge shall order the action removed to the court that would have jurisdiction of an appeal if the action had been tried in general sessions court. The judge shall direct the clerk to promptly transmit the papers in the action to the clerk of the court to which the action is removed.
- (2) If the judge finds the defense will not be substantial, complex or expensive or that the cost bond is not sufficient, the judge shall deny the application and proceed to try the action.

(d) If an action is removed pursuant to this section, in no event shall an objection to venue be considered by the circuit court, unless raised by a defendant in the defendant's affidavit in support of removal filed in the general sessions court.

(e) This section does not apply in any county having a population of not less than seven hundred seventy thousand (770,000) nor more than seven hundred eighty thousand (780,000), according to the federal census of 1980 or any subsequent federal census.

Acts 1988, ch. 732, §§ 1, 2; 1993, ch. 241, § 50; T.C.A., § 19-1-122; Acts 1994, ch. 690, § 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2007–2026 · leading case: Benson v. Herbst, 240 S.W.3d 235 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007).

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Benson v. Herbst, 240 S.W.3d 235 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “The transfer provisions in Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (1994) were equally unavailable to Mr.”

McGee v. Jacobs, 236 S.W.3d 162 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “filed), distinguishing timeliness for recommencement of action following entry of order of voluntary nonsuit in actions removed from general sessions court to circuit court pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 16-15-732.”

Monsieur Shawnellias Burgess v. Bradford Hills HOA (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 12× “Burka’s motion to dismiss, and whether the general sessions and circuit courts complied with the statutory intent of the statute governing removal, Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 . All three of these issues fall under the umbrella of the law of the case doctrine.”

James Bevels, Sr. v. Alma Tubbs & Danny Tubbs (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 11× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (2009). -3- that removal to Circuit Court was proper because they had a substantial defense to Owner’s claim, and because they had suffered personal injuries as a result of the negligence of Owner or the flooring company Owner hired to refinish the…”

In re Conservatorship of Timothy Beasley (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 8× “The Conservators cited Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (b) as authority for removing the case to chancery court.”

Robert Johnson v. Memphis Guitar Spa, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 . 6 There was never any dispute that had the tenants’ counterclaim been filed as a separate, independent action in the circuit court, the circuit court would have properly had subject matter jurisdiction over the claim.”

Glen Cruzen v. Ayman Awad (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “After considering the 1 Tenn. Code Ann. §16-15-732 provides, in relevant part: (c)(1) If the general sessions judge finds that a defendant's defense is substantial, complex or expensive to present, and that the defendant has posted a sufficient cost bond, the judge shall order…”

Action Chiropractic Clinic, LLC v. Prentice Delon Hyler (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “On August 2 Erie filed an application to remove the case to Circuit Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 , stating, inter alia: Plaintiff seeks to enforce an assignment of benefits executed by one of its patients against Erie pursuant to Tennessee Code §…”

Assocs. Asset Mgmt., LLC b. Sheila Smith (2020). “” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 . -2- Defendant first appeared in the circuit court on October 25, 2017, with the filing of a motion to dismiss on the ground that the July 2010 service of summons was insufficient.”

Patrick McGee v. Tommy Jacobs, Jacobs, Cohen & McCormick, PLLC CPAS (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “filed), distinguishing timeliness for recommencement of action following entry of order of voluntary nonsuit in actions removed from general sessions court to circuit court pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 16-15-732. -6-”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732(b) — 2 cases

James Bevels, Sr. v. Alma Tubbs & Danny Tubbs (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (2009). -3- that removal to Circuit Court was proper because they had a substantial defense to Owner’s claim, and because they had suffered personal injuries as a result of the negligence of Owner or the flooring company Owner hired to refinish the…”

In re Conservatorship of Timothy Beasley (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “The Conservators cited Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732 (b) as authority for removing the case to chancery court.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-732(e) — 1 case

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