Tennessee Code Title 54. Highways, Bridges and Ferries § 54-5-125

(a) The petition shall be signed by the commissioner, or by the attorney for the department for the commissioner; and upon the filing of the petition accompanied by payment, the suit shall be dismissed as to the commissioner as a matter of right, the sum paid into court as to the plaintiff or claimant standing in lieu and as a satisfaction of the contractor's bond and a fulfillment of the duties of the department to the claimant or plaintiff.

(b) No claimant shall file a claim with the department without verifying the claim by oath.

(c) Where more than one (1) claimant files suit in the same court, the commissioner may embrace in one (1) petition the names of the claimants, the aggregate amounts of their claims, etc., accompanying the petition with photostats, and making payment by one (1) voucher to cover the whole.