Current Pending Cases – Civil

Larry Strickland, et al v. Dusty Rhoades, et al. (Denied Motion for Temporary Injunction by Written Order)

Style: Larry Strickland, et al v. Dusty Rhoades, et al.

TSC Docket Number: M2022-01211-SC-R10-CV

Court of Appeals Opinion: https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/grant_order_-_trap_10_granted_82122_trial_court_order_vacated_remanded_to_trial_court_for_consolidated_hearing_pursuant_to_trcp_65.047.pdf

Summary by the Court of Appeals:

On August 1, 2022, Plaintiffs Larry Strickland, as surviving spouse of decedent Naomi Judd, and as executor of the estate of Naomi Judd, and Wynonna Judd, as surviving daughter, filed a verified complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against Dusty Rhoades, in his official capacity as Sheriff of Williamson County, Tennessee. The complaint sought an order “finding that Plaintiffs have constitutional privacy rights, that the records held by the Defendant pertaining to Ms. Judd’s death are confidential and exempt from disclosure under Tennessee law, and that any release or dissemination of the records by the Defendant[] would violate such rights[.]” On August 12, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a first amended and restated verified petition for declaratory and injunctive relief, which added Ashley Judd, as surviving daughter, as a plaintiff, and added Williamson County, Tennessee, as a defendant (together with Mr. Rhoades, “the County”). Also on August 12, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary injunction seeking to “prohibit the Defendant from releasing, disseminating, distributing, or making public any records related to the investigation into the death of Naomi Judd, other than those expressly defined as public record by statute.” On August 25, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a second amended and restated verified petition for declaratory and injunctive relief adding Jamie Vaughan, Natalie Neysa Alund, and Dalton Hammonds—journalists who had submitted public records requests to the County related to the death of Ms. Judd—as defendants (together, “the Journalists”). The County and the Journalists both filed responses to the motion for a temporary injunction, and a hearing was held on August 30, 2022. The trial court denied the motion for temporary injunction by written order on August 31, 2022, and also denied Plaintiffs’ request for an interlocutory appeal.

Permission to Appeal Granted: September 29, 2022

Appellants’ Briefs Filed: 

Appellees’ Briefs Filed:

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Appellees’ Reply Brief Filed:

Amicus Briefs Permitted:  

Oral Argument Date:

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