Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-313 (2026)
Limitations on compensatory damage amounts - Exclusions from application of limits
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) For any cause of action arising under § 4-21-401, § 8-50-103, or § 50-1-304, the sum of the amount of compensatory damages awarded for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses, shall not exceed, for each complaining party:
- (1) In the case of a cause of action arising under § 50-1-304 and an employer who has less than eight (8) employees at the time the cause of action arose, twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000);
- (2) In the case of an employer who has eight (8) or more but fewer than fifteen (15) employees at the time the cause of action arose, twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000);
- (3) In the case of an employer who has more than fourteen (14) and fewer than one hundred one (101) employees at the time the cause of action arose, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000);
- (4) In the case of an employer who has more than one hundred (100) and fewer than two hundred one (201) employees at the time the cause of action arose, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000);
- (5) In the case of an employer who has more than two hundred (200) and fewer than five hundred one (501) employees at the time the cause of action arose, two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000); and
- (6) In the case of an employer who has more than five hundred (500) employees at the time the cause of action arose, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000).
- (b) The limitations in subsection (a) shall not apply to backpay, interest on backpay, front pay, or any equitable relief.
- (c) The court shall not inform a jury of the limitations in subsection (a), but the court shall conform any judgment to comply with the limitations.
- (d) For the purpose of determining when the cause of action arose under subsection (a), the court shall determine the number of employees employed by the employer on the date when the adverse employment action giving rise to the employee's claim occurred.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 593,s 1, eff. 3/10/2016.
Added by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 995,s 2, eff. 7/1/2014.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2014–2024 · leading case: Larry Sneed v. The City of Red Bank, Tennessee, 459 S.W.3d 17 (Tenn. 2014).
Larry Sneed v. The City of Red Bank, Tennessee, 459 S.W.3d 17 (Tenn. 2014). “We note that Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-313(a) (Supp.2014) applies to "any cause of action arising under §§ 4-21-401, 8-50-103, or 50-1-304 [the TPPA].”
Joseph Sweat v. City of McMinnville (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “(c)(1) Any employee terminated in violation of subsection (b) shall have a cause of action against the employer for retaliatory discharge and any other damages to which the employee may be entitled, subject to the limitations set out in Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-313 . Tenn. Code…”
Ogle v. Jones (E.D. Tenn. 2024). “The Court noted in the Judgment Order that “pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-313 (a)(6), Plaintiff’s damages on this claim are capped at $300,000.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-313(a): 1 case
Larry Sneed v. The City of Red Bank, Tennessee, 459 S.W.3d 17 (Tenn. 2014). “We note that Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-313(a) (Supp.2014) applies to "any cause of action arising under §§ 4-21-401, 8-50-103, or 50-1-304 [the TPPA].”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-313(c): 1 case
Larry Sneed v. The City of Red Bank, Tennessee, 459 S.W.3d 17 (Tenn. 2014). “We note that Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-21-313(a) (Supp.2014) applies to "any cause of action arising under §§ 4-21-401, 8-50-103, or 50-1-304 [the TPPA].”
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