(a) In all court actions directly affecting the amount, administration or disposition of a charitable gift or a discretionary charitable gift, the court may require that the attorney general and reporter be made a party to represent the charitable beneficiaries, potential charitable beneficiaries and all citizens of the state in all legal matters pertaining to the amount, administration and disposition of a charitable gift or discretionary charitable gift. The attorney general and reporter may sue and be sued, and, insofar as the suit against the attorney general and reporter is against the state, the state expressly consents to be sued. The attorney general and reporter may designate a district attorney general to prosecute or defend any court action.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 35-13-110

  • Attorney general and reporter: means the attorney general and reporter of Tennessee or the attorney general and reporter's designee. See Tennessee Code 35-13-102
  • charitable: as used in this chapter , unless expressly indicated not to be charitable by the context in which they are used. See Tennessee Code 35-13-102
  • Charitable gift: means any gift clearly intended for charitable purposes. See Tennessee Code 35-13-102
  • Court: means the chancery court or other court exercising equity jurisdiction or a probate court of record. See Tennessee Code 35-13-102
  • Discretionary charitable gift: means a charitable gift that has indefinite beneficiaries, objects, purposes or subjects. See Tennessee Code 35-13-102
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • 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.
(b) It is unlawful to settle any litigation concerning the validity of a charitable gift or discretionary charitable gift without first obtaining the approval of the court. The court shall approve a settlement only after determining that the interest of the people of the state, as true beneficiaries of any charitable gift, has been served.