Tennessee Code Title 50. Employer and Employee § 50-1-310

(c)(1) Any teacher terminated or discriminated against in violation of subsection (a) shall have a cause of action against the employer for violation of this section and any other damages to which the employee may be entitled.

(2) Any teacher terminated or discriminated against in violation of subsection (a) solely for refusing to participate in, or for refusing to remain silent about, illegal activities who prevails in a cause of action against an employer for such prohibited actions shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs.

(d)(1) This section shall not be used for frivolous lawsuits and anyone who files a frivolous lawsuit is subject to sanction as provided in subdivision (d)(2).

(2) If any teacher files a cause of action for retaliatory discharge for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause needless increase in costs to the employer, the court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, shall impose upon the teacher an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay the other party or parties the amount of reasonable expenses incurred, including reasonable attorney's fee.