Terms Used In Tennessee Code 20-13-103

  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105

The attorney general and reporter may compromise and settle, insofar as the state is concerned, any civil litigation to which the state may be a party, upon such terms as in the attorney general and reporter’s opinion may seem to be in the best interest of the state, and may enter into such agreements in connection with the compromise and settlement as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. Written approval of the comptroller of the treasury and governor shall be required for any compromise and settlement greater than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The attorney general and reporter shall submit a report quarterly to the comptroller of the treasury and governor of all compromises and settlements made without the written approval of the comptroller of the treasury and governor. The written approval of the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, the comptroller of the treasury and governor, shall be also required for the compromise and settlement of such civil litigation to which the state may be a party if the compromise and settlement will result in a significant increase in state expenditures, affect the bond rating of the state or result in a decision on a policy issue that may result in a significant increase in state expenditures.