Saturday, July 13, 2019

Cap on jury awards
The parents of a man who died in a church bus,/van tractor trailer rig crash in Jefferson County back in 2013, are fighting a limit on jury awards in Tennessee. Trent Roberts, 24, died in the crash that was caused by a faulty tire on the church van that the maker was aware of. But the Volunteer state has a law that limits jury awards in civil cases. It was enacted to attract businesses to the state, but now has been found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court. The parents of Trent argue the law took away a jury’s right to decide awards in civil lawsuits. Investigators laid blame for the crash on a defective Hankook Tire on the church bus, which the manufacturer knew was defective. The current Tennessee law "caps" damages companies face for behavior that causes or leads to injuries, psychological harm or death. It was enacted as a way to lure businesses to Tennessee. But the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the state legislature has no right under Tennessee’s Constitution to take away the authority of juries to punish civil wrongdoing with punitive damages. But Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is fighting the ruling. He is now trying to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the 6th Circuit ruling saying it is a states’ rights issue. The U.S. Supreme Court has not decided whether it will take up the case.


Return to Today's News Stories - Front Page

Thursday, April 29, 2021

  • US 411 Project News
  • Mill Creek Wildfire Update
  • More Bad News For Smokies' Fans

    Wednesday, April 28, 2021

  • Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
  • Goodbye Smokies?
  • Keep Cocke County Beautiful
  • Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!

    Tuesday, April 27, 2021

  • The fireflies are coming!
  • Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
  • Gas prices drop
  • Tennessee keeps all US House seats

    Monday, April 26, 2021

  • Boat accident victim ID'd
  • Traffic stop yields drug arrest
  • Cocke County Wildfires

    Friday, April 23, 2021

  • Leaving WNPC
  • Mathis announces candidacy
  • Newport drug roundup
  • Cruise Against Cancer
  • Jobless numbers