Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (2026)
Discipline or discrimination for communication prohibited - Damages
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) It is unlawful for any public employer to discipline, threaten to discipline or otherwise discriminate against an employee because such employee exercised that employee's right to communicate with an elected public official.
- (b) If the court of competent jurisdiction determines that a public employer has disciplined, threatened to discipline or otherwise discriminated against an employee because such employee exercised the rights provided by this part, such employee shall be entitled to compensatory damages plus reasonable attorney fees.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 446,s 1, eff. 5/22/2019.
Acts 1980, ch. 806, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1984–2025 · leading case: John TODD & Cynthia Bank-Harris v. SHELBY Cnty., Tennessee, 407 S.W.3d 212 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012).
John TODD & Cynthia Bank-Harris v. SHELBY Cnty., Tennessee, 407 S.W.3d 212 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). “Appellants, former employees of the Shelby County Department of Homeland Security, filed suit against Appellee for retaliatory discharge under both the Tennessee Public Protection Act, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 50-1-304, and the Tennessee Public Employee Political Freedom…”
Concrete Spaces, Inc. v. Sender, 2 S.W.3d 901 (Tenn. 1999). “§ 8-50-603 (1993) (employee is entitled to treble damages and attorneys fees if employer disciplined or threatened to discipline or otherwise interfered with employee's right to communicate with an elected official); Tenn.Code Ann. § 46-2-41 l(Supp.”
Green v. Campbell Cnty., 352 F. Supp. 3d 860 (E.D. Tenn. 2018). “" Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (a). The County argues nothing in the record shows Plaintiff was disciplined or discriminated against after she communicated with County officials, let alone because of such communications.”
William L. Boone v. Town of Collierville (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (b) (2018).1 Although PEPFA does not contain an internal statute of limitations, Mr.”
Doe v. Bucciarelli (M.D. Tenn. 2025). “She asserts claims against Houston County for negligent hiring, negligent retention, negligence, sexual harassment and retaliation under the Tennessee Human Rights Act, violation of the PEPFA (which the court understands to be a reference to the Tennessee Public Employees…”
Melinda Keeling v. Coffee Cnty., Tennessee (2018). “Keeling filed this PEPFA lawsuit alleging causes of action against Coffee County pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 ,1 and against Mr.”
Janet Thornton v. Coffee Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (2018). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (b). Thus, the plain language of PEPFA provides no significant guidance as to the type of damages available in a PEPFA claim.”
Amy Frogge v. Shawn Joseph (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (b) (“If the court of competent jurisdiction determines that a public employer has disciplined, threatened to discipline or otherwise discriminated against an employee because such employee exercised the rights provided by this part, such employee…”
Hamblin v. Wilson Cnty., Tennessee (M.D. Tenn. 2025). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (a). Hamblin submits that the timeline from her JCAT speech, the insistence by Coltogirone that her “I quit” email constituted a resignation, Coltogirone removing her from the work schedule, and then Coltogirone’s sharing of the “I quit” email with…”
Dunnam (M.D. Tenn. 2025). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (a). Dunnam alleges Wilson County did so by retaliating against him for speaking with Scruggs, who relayed to Mayor Hutto, about his issues with Jakalski’s timekeeping.”
Larry Robbins v. City of Johnson City, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “T.C.A. § 8-50-603. The City first contends that the letter did not concern a “job-related purpose” because Robbins had no supervisory authority or responsibility over either Lukianoff or the secretary.”
Rachel Jones v. Wilson Cnty., Tenn. (6th Cir. 2018). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (a). Jones argues that it is “undisputed” that she was terminated for communicating in open court with the judge, an elected public official.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603(b) — 2 cases
William L. Boone v. Town of Collierville (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-603 (b) (2018).1 Although PEPFA does not contain an internal statute of limitations, Mr.”
Judy Pewitt v. Lillie Buford, A. Cliff Frensley & Williamson Cnty., Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995).
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