General information about commercial disputes in Tennessee courts
Call (931) 552-6000Business disputes take many forms: a customer who does not pay, a supplier who does not deliver, a partner or fellow member who disagrees about how the company should be run, a lease or sale of a business that goes wrong, or a claim that someone damaged or took business property. Many of these disputes are about contracts, and they are usually resolved by negotiation, mediation or a lawsuit.
The first steps are usually practical. Gather the contract and the communications, preserve emails and records, and identify the amount at stake and the outcome you want. A demand letter may resolve a matter without a lawsuit. Tennessee courts also encourage alternative dispute resolution, and mediation under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 is common. If the contract requires arbitration, the dispute may not belong in court at all.
Deadlines matter. Tennessee generally allows six years to sue on a contract, and three years for claims involving injury to, or the detention or conversion of, personal or real property. Some contracts and statutes set shorter periods.
Where a business lawsuit is filed depends on the amount in dispute and the kind of relief sought. General Sessions Courts hear civil cases up to a dollar limit that varies by county. Larger claims are filed in Circuit Court, and Chancery Court hears cases involving contract and debt, specific performance and real estate matters, among others. The circuit and chancery courts’ jurisdiction often overlaps, so the choice can be strategic. In Montgomery and Robertson Counties, the Chancery and Circuit courts are part of the 19th Judicial District and use its electronic filing rules. Stewart, Houston and Cheatham Counties are in the 23rd Judicial District.
We start by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the claim, the cost of pursuing it, and the realistic options, including settlement. Roger A. Maness has practiced since 1980, and Austin Maness focuses on small business and construction matters. We represent both businesses that need to enforce an agreement and those that are defending a claim. We explain the risks plainly.
Related pages: contract review, construction disputes, civil lawsuits, and forming an LLC.
Our only office is in Clarksville, and we handle matters for clients in Montgomery County (Clarksville), Stewart County (Dover), Houston County (Erin), Robertson County (Springfield), and Cheatham County (Ashland City). Venue rules and contract clauses decide which county’s court hears a business dispute, and we review them at the start of every case.
Call to schedule a consultation about a business dispute.
Office: 233 Dunbar Cave Road, Suite A, Clarksville, TN 37043 · Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Email: [email protected] · Fax: (931) 645-1890
Contacting the firm does not create an attorney–client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until a relationship has been established. General information on this page is not legal advice, and every situation is different. Past matters do not predict the outcome of any future matter.