Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 (2026)
Discriminatory practices
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or for two (2) or more persons to:
- (1) Retaliate or discriminate in any manner against a person because such person has opposed a practice declared discriminatory by this chapter or because such person has made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding or hearing under this chapter;
- (2) Willfully interfere with the performance of a duty or the exercise of a power by the commission or one (1) of its members or representatives;
- (3) Willfully obstruct or prevent a person from complying with this chapter or an order issued under this chapter; or
- (4) Violate the terms of a conciliation agreement made pursuant to this chapter.
- (b) No individual employee or agent of an employer shall be liable for any violation of part 4 of this chapter that any employer shall be found to have committed.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 995,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 1978, ch. 748, § 16; T.C.A., §§ 4-2114, 4-21-114.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 100
cases (16 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case: Laschinski T. Emerson v. Oak Ridge Rsch., Inc. a/k/a Oak Ridge Realty Holding, Inc. & Nathaniel Revis, 187 S.W.3d 364 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005).
Laschinski T. Emerson v. Oak Ridge Rsch., Inc. a/k/a Oak Ridge Realty Holding, Inc. & Nathaniel Revis, 187 S.W.3d 364 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Plaintiff made a claim of such retaliation pursuant to -12- Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 in her Amended Complaint, and both Revis and ORRI are persons pursuant to Tenn.”
Timmy Sykes v. Chattanooga Hous. Auth., 343 S.W.3d 18 (Tenn. 2011). “2010), and the Tennessee Human Rights Act (“THRA”), Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-301 (2005). The trial court granted the defendants summary judgment on all claims.”
Brown v. Bd. of Educ., 47 F. Supp. 3d 665 (W.D. Tenn. 2014). “Brown’s Aiding '& Abetting Tort against District,” Brown alleges that Allen and Helminski aided and abetted each other in engaging in tortious conduct toward him, including forging certain letters and defaming him.”
Allen v. McPhee, 240 S.W.3d 803 (Tenn. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1) (2005). The standards by which a person or entity may be found liable for retaliation under Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-301(1) are issues of first impression for this Court.”
Phillips v. Interstate Hotels Corp., 974 S.W.2d 680 (Tenn. 1998). “The plaintiff's cause of action is premised on allegations that the defendants forced him to participate in this illegal and discriminatory activity in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301. The trial court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment.”
Pigott v. Battle Ground Academy, 909 F. Supp. 2d 949 (M.D. Tenn. 2012). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301. Accordingly, the common law tort of retaliatory discharge is preempted by the THRA.”
Frye v. St. Thomas Health Servs., 227 S.W.3d 595 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1). In order a establish a claim for retaliation, a plaintiff must show that (1) the plaintiff engaged in an activity protected by statute; (2) the defendant had knowledge of the plaintiffs exercise of protected activity; (3) the defendant thereafter…”
Mitch Goree v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 490 S.W.3d 413 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(a)(1). Although Plaintiffs Goree and Wherry filed a joint complaint and have been jointly represented throughout this action, their claims are separate and independent.”
Jim Ferguson v. Middle Tennessee State Univ., 451 S.W.3d 375 (Tenn. 2014). “§ 2000e-3 (2006), and the THRA, Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301 (1978), which prohibit employers or their agents from retaliating against employees who engage in protected activity, such as the filing of an employment discrimination lawsuit.”
Dr. William P. Harman v. Univ. of Tennessee, 353 S.W.3d 734 (Tenn. 2011). “”); (Tennessee Human Rights Act) Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 (2005) (emphasis added) (“It is a discriminatory practice for [any] person to: (1) [r]etaliate or discriminate in any manner against a person because such person has opposed a practice declared discriminatory by this…”
Carr v. United Parcel Serv., 955 S.W.2d 832 (Tenn. 1997). “Moreover, the THRA provides that: *836 [i]t is a discriminatory practice for a person or for two (2) or more persons to: [[Image here]] (2) Aid, abet, incite, compel or command a person to engage in any of the acts or practices declared discriminatory by this chapter; Tenn.Code…”
Larry Sneed v. The City of Red Bank, Tennessee, 459 S.W.3d 17 (Tenn. 2014). “§ 4-21-407 (2011); (4) discriminatory practices and retaliation in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-301 (2011 & Supp.2014); (5) violations of-Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-44-101 (2011 & Supp.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1) — 17 cases
Allen v. McPhee, 240 S.W.3d 803 (Tenn. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1) (2005). The standards by which a person or entity may be found liable for retaliation under Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-301(1) are issues of first impression for this Court.”
Laschinski T. Emerson v. Oak Ridge Rsch., Inc. a/k/a Oak Ridge Realty Holding, Inc. & Nathaniel Revis, 187 S.W.3d 364 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Plaintiff made a claim of such retaliation pursuant to -12- Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 in her Amended Complaint, and both Revis and ORRI are persons pursuant to Tenn.”
Pigott v. Battle Ground Academy, 909 F. Supp. 2d 949 (M.D. Tenn. 2012). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301. Accordingly, the common law tort of retaliatory discharge is preempted by the THRA.”
Frye v. St. Thomas Health Servs., 227 S.W.3d 595 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1). In order a establish a claim for retaliation, a plaintiff must show that (1) the plaintiff engaged in an activity protected by statute; (2) the defendant had knowledge of the plaintiffs exercise of protected activity; (3) the defendant thereafter…”
Moore v. Nashville Elec. Power Bd., 72 S.W.3d 643 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1)(1991) — 1 case
Miller v. City of Murfreesboro, 122 S.W.3d 766 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(2) — 14 cases
Allen v. McPhee, 240 S.W.3d 803 (Tenn. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1) (2005). The standards by which a person or entity may be found liable for retaliation under Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-301(1) are issues of first impression for this Court.”
Phillips v. Interstate Hotels Corp., 974 S.W.2d 680 (Tenn. 1998). “The plaintiff's cause of action is premised on allegations that the defendants forced him to participate in this illegal and discriminatory activity in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301. The trial court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment.”
Laschinski T. Emerson v. Oak Ridge Rsch., Inc. a/k/a Oak Ridge Realty Holding, Inc. & Nathaniel Revis, 187 S.W.3d 364 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Plaintiff made a claim of such retaliation pursuant to -12- Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 in her Amended Complaint, and both Revis and ORRI are persons pursuant to Tenn.”
Pigott v. Battle Ground Academy, 909 F. Supp. 2d 949 (M.D. Tenn. 2012). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301. Accordingly, the common law tort of retaliatory discharge is preempted by the THRA.”
Frye v. St. Thomas Health Servs., 227 S.W.3d 595 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(1). In order a establish a claim for retaliation, a plaintiff must show that (1) the plaintiff engaged in an activity protected by statute; (2) the defendant had knowledge of the plaintiffs exercise of protected activity; (3) the defendant thereafter…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(a)(1) — 5 cases
Mitch Goree v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 490 S.W.3d 413 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301(a)(1). Although Plaintiffs Goree and Wherry filed a joint complaint and have been jointly represented throughout this action, their claims are separate and independent.”
Jim Ferguson v. Middle Tennessee State Univ., 451 S.W.3d 375 (Tenn. 2014). “§ 2000e-3 (2006), and the THRA, Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-301 (1978), which prohibit employers or their agents from retaliating against employees who engage in protected activity, such as the filing of an employment discrimination lawsuit.”
McGuire v. Highmark Holdings (M.D. Tenn. 2019).
McGuire v. Highmark Holdings (M.D. Tenn. 2021).
Chapman v. Olymbec USA, LLC. (W.D. Tenn. 2020).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(a)(2) — 3 cases
DeSoto v. Bd. of Parks & Rec., 64 F. Supp. 3d 1070 (M.D. Tenn. 2014).
Carr v. United Parcel Serv., 955 S.W.2d 832 (Tenn. 1997). “Moreover, the THRA provides that: *836 [i]t is a discriminatory practice for a person or for two (2) or more persons to: [[Image here]] (2) Aid, abet, incite, compel or command a person to engage in any of the acts or practices declared discriminatory by this chapter; Tenn.Code…”
Washington v. Robertson Cnty., 29 S.W.3d 466 (Tenn. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301(b) — 1 case
Amos v. Lampo Grp., LLC, The (M.D. Tenn. 2023).
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