Title 16, Courts

(a) If the defendant pleads a setoff to the plaintiff's debt, and it appears that there is a balance due in favor of the defendant, the general sessions court shall enter up judgment in favor of the defendant and against the plaintiff for the balance. If the plaintiff fails in es…

If the sum found for either plaintiff or defendant exceeds the jurisdiction of the general sessions court, that party may remit the excess, and take judgment for the residue, but the party cannot afterwards sue for the amount so remitted.

(a) Tenn. R. Civ. P. 60.01, regarding clerical mistakes, shall apply to all courts of general sessions. The general sessions judge shall have the authority under the same circumstances and in the same manner as is provided in Tenn. R. Civ. P. 60.01 to correct such mistakes. (b) T…

Every intendment is in favor of the sufficiency and validity of proceedings before general sessions courts, when brought in question, either directly or collaterally, in any of the courts, where it appears on the face of the proceedings that the general sessions court had jurisdi…

No civil case, originating in a general sessions court and carried to a higher court, shall be dismissed by such court for any informality whatever, but shall be tried on its merits; and the court shall allow all amendments in the form of action, the parties thereto, or the state…

If the judgment is rendered by one general sessions judge, and execution is issued by another, and in all other cases where steps appear to be taken by one judge instead of another, the presumption, in the absence of proof to the contrary, is that the execution was issued and ste…

(a) Notwithstanding any rule of court or any law to the contrary, actions in the nature of interpleader, in which the value of the money that is the subject of the action does not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the general sessions court, may be filed in general sessions cour…

(a) At any time at least three (3) or more business days prior to the scheduled trial date of a civil action commenced in general sessions court, any defendant in the action may apply to have the action and all the papers of the action removed to a court having jurisdiction of ap…

(a) Sheriffs, coroners, constables, and their sureties are liable to judgment by motion for the amount to which the plaintiff is entitled, with interest, and damages at the rate of twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) in the following cases:(1) In the general sessions court of the…

When any surety or stayor is compelled to pay a general sessions court's judgment against a principal debtor for which the surety or stayor is liable, the surety or stayor may, by motion, before the general sessions court having legal custody of the judgment, recover judgment aga…

(a) In cases or controversies arising in a court of general sessions, if a defendant feels that the defendant is either not at fault or that another person is also at fault, the defendant is to notify the opposing party or parties and the clerk of the court in writing forty-eight…

The general sessions court that renders a judgment may issue execution on the judgment.

Where an appeal has been prayed and obtained from a judgment of a general sessions court, if the plaintiff and defendant compromise the case before the papers have been returned to the court to which the appeal was taken, and file with the general sessions court a written notice …

When the docket book and original papers belonging to the general sessions court are destroyed, and the judge makes oath to that effect, it shall be lawful for the judge, or the judge's successor in office, upon the plaintiff, the plaintiff's agent, attorney, or returning officer…

(a) Whenever any execution issued by a general sessions court is levied on real estate, and ten (10) days from date of the levy has expired, the title to real estate shall not be affected as to third parties until the execution or the papers in the cause are filed in the circuit …

(a) The officer levying an execution issued by a general sessions court on personalty shall advertise the sale of the personalty for ten (10) days at one (1) public place in the district in which the defendant resides, at the courthouse door of the county and at two (2) public pl…

Except with regard to executions on real property that are governed by §§ 16-15-804 and 16-15-805, after the time for filing appeal has expired, the procedure for executions and proceedings supplementary to and in aid of judgments of courts of general sessions, including, but not…

When an execution issued from the judgment of a court of record, and an execution from a general sessions court's judgment, are levied on the same personal property, the execution first levied shall have preference.

(a) Upon filing of civil warrants, writs and other papers, the clerk of the general sessions court in which the civil warrants, writs or other papers are filed, shall issue the required process, writs or other papers, and cause it or them, with necessary copies of the civil warra…

(a) Any person serving the process from the general sessions court shall promptly and within the time during which the person is served must respond, make proof of service to the court and shall identify the person served and shall describe the manner of service. (b) Process shal…

(1) The plaintiff shall after issuance by the clerk of the general sessions court furnish the persons making the service with all necessary copies. Service shall be made as follows:(1) Upon an individual other than an unmarried infant incompetent person, by delivering a copy of t…

(a) (1) Whenever the law of this state authorizes service outside this state, service, when reasonably calculated to give notice, may be made:(A) By any form of service authorized within this state pursuant to this part;(B) In any manner prescribed by the law of the state in whic…

In cases where constructive service of process is permissible under the statutes of this state, constructive service shall be made in the manner prescribed by those statutes, unless otherwise expressly provided in this part.