2019 Tennessee Code
Title 66 - Property
Chapter 7 - Leases
§ 66-7-107. Termination for knowing controlled substance or prostitution violations.

(a)

• (1) An occupant's tenancy may be terminated where the premises or the area immediately surrounding the premises is knowingly used or occupied in whole or in part to violate § 39-13-513, § 39-13-515 or § 39-17-417.

• (2) The identity of any person who provides evidence or other information that results in an eviction or other termination of residency pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential and shall not be made a public record by the law enforcement agency or the district attorney general.

(b) The district attorney general for the district in which the real property is located may serve personally upon the owner or landlord of the premises so used or occupied, or upon the owner's or landlord's agent, or may send by registered return receipt or certified return receipt mail, a written notice requiring the owner or landlord to inform such district attorney general in writing of the owner's or landlord's intent to diligently and in good faith seek the eviction of the tenants or occupants so using or occupying the premises. If the owner or landlord or the owner's or landlord's agent does not so inform such district attorney general in writing within five (5) days of receiving written notice or, having so done, does not in good faith diligently prosecute such eviction, the district attorney general may bring a proceeding under this section in general sessions court, specifically including any general sessions court designated as an environmental court, or circuit court for such eviction as though the district attorney general was the owner or landlord of the premises, and such proceeding shall have precedence over any similar proceeding thereafter brought by such owner or landlord or to a proceeding previously brought by such owner or landlord and not prosecuted diligently and in good faith. The person in possession of the property and the owner or landlord shall be made respondents in such a proceeding.

(c) A court granting relief pursuant to this section may order, in addition to any other costs provided by law, the payment by the respondent or respondents of reasonable attorney fees and the prepaid costs of the proceeding to the district attorney general. In such cases, multiple respondents are jointly and severally liable for any payment so ordered. Any costs collected shall be remitted to the office of the district attorney general, and any attorney fees collected shall be remitted to the general fund of the county where the proceeding occurred.

(d) A proceeding brought under this section for possession of the premises does not preclude the owner or landlord from recovering monetary damages from the tenants or occupants of such premises in a civil action.

(e) The owner or landlord of the real property is obligated to pay the costs required to physically remove the tenant's personal belongings from the rental property in compliance with an eviction order of the court in all eviction proceedings brought under this section by the district attorney general; such costs not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) for each such eviction order.