29-20-201 - General rule of immunity from suit Exception. - Tennessee Statutes

29-20-201. General rule of immunity from suit Exception.

(a)  Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result from the activities of such governmental entities wherein such governmental entities are engaged in the exercise and discharge of any of their functions, governmental or proprietary.

(b)  (1)  The general assembly finds and declares that the services of governmental entity boards, commissions, authorities and other governing agencies are critical to the efficient conduct and management of the public affairs of the citizens of this state. Complete and absolute immunity is required for the free exercise and discharge of the duties of such boards, commissions, authorities and other governing agencies. Members of boards, commissions, authorities, and other governing agencies must be permitted to operate without concern for the possibility of litigation arising from the faithful discharge of their duties.

     (2)  All members of boards, commissions, agencies, authorities, and other governing bodies of any governmental entity, created by public or private act, whether compensated or not, shall be immune from suit arising from the conduct of the affairs of such board, commission, agency, authority, or other governing body. Such immunity from suit shall be removed when such conduct amounts to willful, wanton, or gross negligence.

(c)  When immunity is removed by this chapter any claim for damages must be brought in strict compliance with the terms of this chapter.

(d)  Notwithstanding this chapter or any other law to the contrary, a governmental entity that places and properly maintains a clearly visible and adequate flood warning sign or barricade at a flooded road area shall be immune from suit for any injury resulting from a violation of § 55-10-205(c). The immunity from suit shall be removed when the governmental entity's conduct amounts to willful, wanton, or gross negligence. It shall be deemed gross negligence if an authorized government employee signaled the motor vehicle operator that it was safe to drive past the sign or barricade and the operator or any passengers in the operator's motor vehicle were injured or killed in the flooded road area due to the employee's signaling the motor vehicle to drive past the sign or barricade.

[Acts 1973, ch. 345, § 3; T.C.A., § 23-3307; Acts 1986, ch. 726, §§ 1, 2; 2008, ch. 986, § 2.]