EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER
Tennessee Law
Tennessee Human Rights Act, Tenn. Code Ann. Section 4-21-101 et seq.
[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]
[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Tennessee ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Tennessee BPR No.]
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA EMAIL TO: [recipient_email]
[Date]
[Employer Contact Name]
[Title]
[Company Legal Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Re: Employment Discrimination Claim of [Client Full Name]
THRC Charge No.: [If filed]
EEOC Charge No.: [If filed]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION - TENN. R. EVID. 408
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name]:
This firm represents [Client Full Name] ("our client") regarding [his/her/their] claims of unlawful employment discrimination against [Company Legal Name] ("[Company Short Name]" or "the Company").
I. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA)
Tennessee prohibits employment discrimination under Tenn. Code Ann. Section 4-21-101 et seq.
Protected Classes Under THRA (Section 4-21-401):
- Race
- Creed
- Color
- Religion
- Sex (including pregnancy)
- Age (40+)
- National origin
B. Tennessee Disability Act (TDA)
Tenn. Code Ann. Section 8-50-103 provides additional protections for individuals with disabilities.
C. Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
| Statute | Protected Class | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Title VII | Race, color, religion, sex, national origin | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq. |
| ADEA | Age (40+) | 29 U.S.C. Section 621 et seq. |
| ADA | Disability | 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq. |
D. Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC)
Important: Administrative exhaustion is NOT required under THRA. Plaintiffs may file directly in court.
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
[Client Full Name] was employed by [Company Short Name] from [Start Date] through [End Date / Present] as a [Job Title] in [City], Tennessee.
III. LEGAL CLAIMS
A. Violation of Tennessee Human Rights Act
[Company Short Name] violated the THRA by discriminating against our client based on [protected class].
Key Provisions:
- Applies to employers with 8+ employees
- No administrative exhaustion required
- 1-year statute of limitations
- Damage caps follow Title VII
See Campbell v. Fla. Steel Corp., 919 S.W.2d 26 (Tenn. 1996).
IV. DAMAGES
A. Damage Caps (Tenn. Code Ann. Section 4-21-313)
| Employer Size | Combined Cap |
|---|---|
| 8-100 employees | $50,000 |
| 101-200 employees | $100,000 |
| 201-500 employees | $200,000 |
| 500+ employees | $300,000 |
B. Summary of Damages
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Back Pay | $[Amount] |
| Compensatory Damages | $[Amount] |
| Punitive Damages | $[Amount] |
| Attorney's Fees | $[Amount] |
| TOTAL | $[Amount] |
V. SETTLEMENT DEMAND
We demand that [Company Short Name] pay $[Settlement Demand Amount] to resolve all claims.
VI. RESPONSE DEADLINE
Please respond within twenty-one (21) calendar days, no later than [Response Deadline Date].
Sincerely,
[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[Tennessee BPR No.]
TENNESSEE-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)
Key Tennessee Considerations
[ ] No Administrative Exhaustion: Can file directly in state court
[ ] 1-Year SOL: Shorter than many states - file promptly
[ ] 8-Employee Threshold: Lower than federal 15-employee threshold
[ ] Federal Damage Caps: State follows Title VII caps
[ ] No SOGI Protection: Sexual orientation and gender identity not protected under state law
Venue Options
- Tennessee Circuit Court: State court venue
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee (Knoxville, Chattanooga)
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville)
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (Memphis)
Statute of Limitations Reference
| Claim | Deadline | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| THRA (court) | 1 year | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 4-21-311 |
| THRC Complaint | 180/300 days | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 4-21-302 |
| EEOC (deferral state) | 300 days | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(e) |