Tennessee Code Title 47. Commercial Instruments and Transactions § 47-25-106

(a) Any person who is directly or indirectly injured or damaged by any violation of this part may individually sue for and recover, in any court of competent jurisdiction, equitable relief and actual damages;  provided, that such an action by a natural person must not be filed or proceed once the attorney general and reporter has commenced an action parens patriae pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) The attorney general and reporter may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of this state, any of this state's political subdivisions or agencies, or as parens patriae on behalf of natural persons residing in this state for appropriate injunctive or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, disgorgement, and to secure monetary damages for any injuries directly or indirectly sustained by reason of any violation of this part.  The court shall award this state a reasonable attorney's fee, costs, and expenses, and, in actions parens patriae, to secure monetary damages or treble damages sustained.

(c) A class action lawsuit must not be brought to obtain injunctive relief and recover damages for conduct declared to be unlawful by this part.

(d) In any action brought by the attorney general and reporter under subsection (b), the attorney general and reporter is the sole party for discovery purposes and is deemed to lack possession, custody, or control over documents possessed by the general assembly, other state officers, or any state agencies or institutions.  If such an action is asserted on behalf of a political subdivision or agency, then the attorney general and reporter may facilitate nonparty discovery from that political subdivision or agency as an instrumentality with an interest in the litigation consistent with § 8-6-109.

(e) In any action brought by the attorney general and reporter under subsection (b), where the attorney general and reporter does not seek to recover for an injury suffered by a state governmental branch or office, official, agency, political subdivision, or other instrumentality, nonparty discovery of that entity is presumptively unreasonable and unduly burdensome.

(f) Actions parens patriae under subsection (b) are subject to the following procedures:

(g) In any action brought by the attorney general and reporter under subsection (b), the court may, as a remedial measure, order payment to this state of a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.