2010 Tennessee Code
Title 36 - Domestic Relations
Chapter 1 - Adoption
Part 1 - General Provisions
36-1-132 - Violation of contact veto a misdemeanor Injunction and damages Attorney's Fees Using information to injure persons whose names were obtained.

36-1-132. Violation of contact veto a misdemeanor Injunction and damages Attorney's Fees Using information to injure persons whose names were obtained.

(a)  Any person who has filed a contact veto pursuant to this part or the adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, shall have a cause of action in the circuit or chancery court for injunctive relief and for compensatory and punitive damages against any person or entity who or that has violated the provisions of the contact veto or for violation of any restrictions on contact with the adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A).

(b)  Venue for such action shall be in the county of the residence of the plaintiff, or, if the plaintiff resides out of state, in the county where the adoption petition was originally filed, or if no petition was filed, or if its venue is unknown, in the chancery or circuit court of any county with a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or greater as established by the federal census of 1990 or any subsequent census.

(c)  A certified copy of the sworn statement that was signed pursuant to § 36-1-127(f) or § 36-1-130(a)(6)(A)(vi), by the person against whom the action is brought for violation of the contact veto shall be admissible in the action under this section as conclusive evidence of that person's knowledge of the restrictions imposed by a contact veto or the restrictions imposed by § 36-1-130.

(d)  Any person who has filed a contact veto or an adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, who has prevailed in an action under subsection (a) shall be entitled to recover attorney's fees and all costs of the proceeding from the opposing party or parties.

(e)  Any action under this section shall be brought within three (3) years of any contact or attempted contact or violation of other restrictions on contact in violation of this part.

(f)  Any person who, after obtaining information under this part, uses such information to cause injury to the person whose name was obtained under this part, commits a Class A misdemeanor. Further, any person who has been injured pursuant to this subsection (f) shall have a cause of action in the circuit or chancery court for injunctive relief and damages, including both compensatory and punitive damages, against any person who uses the information in violation of this subsection.

(g)  Any person who, in violation of this part, contacts or causes to be contacted a person with respect to whom the contacting person or person causing the contact knows a contact veto has been filed pursuant to this part commits a Class B misdemeanor.

[Acts 1995, ch. 532, § 1; 1996, ch. 1054, § 119; 1996, ch. 1068, § 1; 1998, ch. 1002, § 1.]