Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (2026)
General rule of immunity from suit - Exception
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result from the activities of such governmental entities wherein such governmental entities are engaged in the exercise and discharge of any of their functions, governmental or proprietary.
- (b)
- (1) The general assembly finds and declares that the services of governmental entity boards, commissions, authorities and other governing agencies are critical to the efficient conduct and management of the public affairs of the citizens of this state. Complete and absolute immunity is required for the free exercise and discharge of the duties of such boards, commissions, authorities and other governing agencies. Members of boards, commissions, authorities, and other governing agencies must be permitted to operate without concern for the possibility of litigation arising from the faithful discharge of their duties.
- (2) All members of boards, commissions, agencies, authorities, and other governing bodies of any governmental entity, created by public or private act, whether compensated or not, shall be immune from suit arising from the conduct of the affairs of such board, commission, agency, authority, or other governing body. Such immunity from suit shall be removed when such conduct amounts to willful, wanton, or gross negligence.
- (c) When immunity is removed by this chapter any claim for damages must be brought in strict compliance with the terms of this chapter.
- (d) Notwithstanding this chapter or any other law to the contrary, a governmental entity that places and properly maintains a clearly visible and adequate flood warning sign or barricade at a flooded road area shall be immune from suit for any injury resulting from a violation of § 55-10-205(c). The immunity from suit shall be removed when the governmental entity's conduct amounts to willful, wanton, or gross negligence. It shall be deemed gross negligence if an authorized government employee signaled the motor vehicle operator that it was safe to drive past the sign or barricade and the operator or any passengers in the operator's motor vehicle were injured or killed in the flooded road area due to the employee's signaling the motor vehicle to drive past the sign or barricade.
Acts 1973, ch. 345, § 3; T.C.A., § 23-3307; Acts 1986, ch. 726, §§ 1, 2; 2008 , ch. 986, § 2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 260
cases (41 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Limbaugh v. Coffee Med. Ctr., 59 S.W.3d 73 (Tenn. 2001).
Limbaugh v. Coffee Med. Ctr., 59 S.W.3d 73 (Tenn. 2001). “LIABILITY OF COFFEE MEDICAL CENTER, A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, UNDER THE GOVERNMENTAL TORT LIABILITY ACT In 1973, the General Assembly enacted the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA) to codify the general common law rule that “all governmental entities shall be immune…”
Coln v. City of Savannah, 966 S.W.2d 34 (Tenn. 1998). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (a)(Supp. 1997).”
Hughes v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 340 S.W.3d 352 (Tenn. 2011). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (c). In Ezell v.”
Brown v. Bd. of Educ., 47 F. Supp. 3d 665 (W.D. Tenn. 2014). “The Governmental Tort Liability Act (“GTLA”), Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 , provides governmental immunity to the SCBOE.”
Lynn v. City of Jackson, 63 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 29-20-201 et seq. On May 3, 1999, the federal district court dismissed the GTLA claim without prejudice, finding that the GTLA grants exclusive jurisdiction to state circuit courts, and alternatively, declining to exercise jurisdiction over the state law…”
Doyle v. Frost, 49 S.W.3d 853 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a) ("Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result from the activities of such governmental entities wherein such governmental entities are engaged in the…”
Richard Moreno v. City of Clarksville, 479 S.W.3d 795 (Tenn. 2015). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 . After this initial reaffirmation of the general common law rule of governmental immunity, the GTLA removes governmental immunity in limited, enumerated instances for certain injuries.”
Collier v. Memphis Light, Gas & Water Div., 657 S.W.2d 771 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983). “The other grounds relied on in the motions are, in general, failure to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted, immunity of the City pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 29-20-201 and 29-20-203(b), the 12-month limitation of action period set out in Tenn.”
David G. Young v. City of Lafollette, 479 S.W.3d 785 (Tenn. 2015). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a). However, in addition to reaffirming the general grant of immunity, the GTLA also enumerates certain statutory exceptions where governmental immunity is specifically removed.”
Ezell v. Cockrell, 902 S.W.2d 394 (Tenn. 1995). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (1980 & Supp.”
Hill v. Lamberth, 73 S.W.3d 131 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “On December 8, 1999, the School Board filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the basis of immunity from liability under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, T.C.A. § 29-20-201, et seq. (“TGTLA”). On August 8, 2000, following the completion of written discovery and…”
Halliburton v. Town of Halls, 295 S.W.3d 636 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “§ 29-20-101; Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201; Kirby v. Macon County, 892 S.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a) — 55 cases
Limbaugh v. Coffee Med. Ctr., 59 S.W.3d 73 (Tenn. 2001). “LIABILITY OF COFFEE MEDICAL CENTER, A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, UNDER THE GOVERNMENTAL TORT LIABILITY ACT In 1973, the General Assembly enacted the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA) to codify the general common law rule that “all governmental entities shall be immune…”
Coln v. City of Savannah, 966 S.W.2d 34 (Tenn. 1998). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (a)(Supp. 1997).”
David G. Young v. City of Lafollette, 479 S.W.3d 785 (Tenn. 2015). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a). However, in addition to reaffirming the general grant of immunity, the GTLA also enumerates certain statutory exceptions where governmental immunity is specifically removed.”
Doyle v. Frost, 49 S.W.3d 853 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a) ("Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result from the activities of such governmental entities wherein such governmental entities are engaged in the…”
Mooney v. Sneed, 30 S.W.3d 304 (Tenn. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(b) — 11 cases
Jenkins v. Loudon Cnty., 736 S.W.2d 603 (Tenn. 1987).
Jack E. Miller v. Boyd Wyatt, 457 S.W.3d 405 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014).
Sutton v. Barnes, 78 S.W.3d 908 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002).
Daniel Ex Rel. Daniel v. Hardin Cnty. Gen. Hosp., 971 S.W.2d 21 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997).
Flowers v. Dyer Cnty., 830 S.W.2d 51 (Tenn. 1992).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(b)(2) — 7 cases
Cooper v. Rodriguez, 118 A.3d 829 (Md. 2015).
Jack E. Miller v. Boyd Wyatt, 457 S.W.3d 405 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014).
Wigington v. Metro. Nashville Airport Auth., 374 F. Supp. 3d 681 (M.D. Tenn. 2019).
Pamela Moses v. Terry Roland (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021).
David R. Fitzgerald v. Hickman Cnty. Gov't (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(c) — 25 cases
Doyle v. Frost, 49 S.W.3d 853 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a) ("Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result from the activities of such governmental entities wherein such governmental entities are engaged in the…”
Ezell v. Cockrell, 902 S.W.2d 394 (Tenn. 1995). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201 (1980 & Supp.”
David G. Young v. City of Lafollette, 479 S.W.3d 785 (Tenn. 2015). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-201(a). However, in addition to reaffirming the general grant of immunity, the GTLA also enumerates certain statutory exceptions where governmental immunity is specifically removed.”
Epperson v. City of Humboldt, 140 F. Supp. 3d 676 (W.D. Tenn. 2015).
Sutton v. Barnes, 78 S.W.3d 908 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002).
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