The Tennessee Civil Justice Act incorporated significant limitations on the venue in which a defendant can be sued in transitory actions, which includes tort cases. The changes are incorporated in Tenn. Code Ann. §20-4-101 & 104 (see text below). Now, unless venue is otherwise provided for, an individual can only be sued in the county where “all or a substantial part of the events giving rise to the cause of action accrued” or the county where the individual defendant resides.
If an defendant entity is organized under the laws of Tennessee, it can be sued in the county where the cause of action accrued, or where the business maintains its principal office. If the entity is not organized under the laws of Tennessee, it can only be sued in the county where the cause of action arose or where its registered agent for service of process is located. If the entity does not have a registered agent, it can be sued in the county in which the cause of action accrued or the county of any statutorily designated agent for process.
20-4-101. Transitory actions.
(a) In all civil actions of a transitory nature, unless venue is otherwise expressly
provided for, the action may be brought in the county where the cause of action
arose or in the county where the individual defendant resides.
(b) If, however, the plaintiff and defendant both reside in the
same county in this state, then the action shall be brought either in the county
where the cause of action arose or in the county of their residence.
(c) Where the action is brought either in the county where the cause of action arose or in the county where the defendant resides, process may be sent to another county as in local action, and it shall not be necessary nor required that the defendant be in the county of action either when the action is commenced or during the time between the commencement of the action and service of process.
20-4-104. Business office of party.
For all civil actions, if the defendant is not a natural person, the action shall be
brought in:
(1) The county where all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the cause of action accrued;
(2) The county where any defendant organized under the laws of this state maintains its principal office; or
(3) (A) If the defendant is not organized under the laws of this state, the county where the defendant's registered agent for service of process is located; or
(B) If the defendant does not maintain a registered agent within this state, the county where the person designated by statute as the defendant's agent for service of process is located.
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