TLETA Week 2 Exam 2026/2027 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
conduct that shocks the conscience -✓✓ Blatantly immoral to the reasonable person;
Thurman v. Torrington; very high cost
Plaintiff's 5 Front Attack -✓✓ 1. Facts of the Case (5 W's)
2. Policy (written)
3. Training
4. Supervision
5. Discipline
Canton v. Harris (1989) -✓✓ Officers should receive training and information for
foreseeable activities
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-202 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from
Unsafe Operation (negligence) of a Motor Vehicle
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-203 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from an
Unsafe (defective) Street, Alley, Sidewalk, and/or Traffic Control Device. Actual (known)
or Constructive (should've known) Notice Required.
Liability for Negligence is Based on 4 Elements -✓✓ 1. You had a duty to act.
2. You breached that duty.
3. Your breach of that duty was a proximate cause of the injury.
4. An actual injury or property damage did occur.
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-204 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from
Dangerous Structures (public buildings/playgrounds). Actual (known) or Constructive
(should've known) Notice Required.
Public Duty Doctrine -✓✓ government functions are owed to the general public but not
to specific individuals thus there is generally no liability for failing to protect a member of
the public
Limits of Liability -✓✓ $300K for BI or death of 1 person (State limit $300K)
$700K for BI or death(s) of all persons/occurrence (3+)(State limit $1 Million); $100K for
property damage/occurrence
Personal Protections (TCA 29-20-310(b)) -✓✓ Individual protected against loss "for
damages for which the immunity of the govt entity is removed"
,Personal Protections (TCA 29-20-310c) -✓✓ Individual also protected by the statutory
limits since 1987
Punitive Damages -✓✓ Excluded by TN Supreme Ct in 1978 (Tipton v. Dennis); can't be
assessed in federal courts; Personal penalty against the individual.
No Double-Dipping (Personal Protections) -✓✓ If city/county/state can be sued, you as
an individual have immunity.
Federal Civil Rights code -✓✓ 42 USC Section 1983;
Protects individuals from abuse by govt officials.
Allows liability suits against public officials acting under "color of law" who violate
Constitutional rights.
Who may bring suit? -✓✓ Any citizen or other person
Who may be a defendant? -✓✓ Any person operating under color of law (or if you lead
someone to believe you're acting under color of law)
Monroe v. Pape (1961) -✓✓ Can sue a govt employee in federal court under section
1983. Focus was officer only.
Monell v. NYC (1978) -✓✓ Expanded definition of "persons" subject to section 1983
liability to include entity, agency, and department.
Reasonable Attorney Fees -✓✓ Section 1988. With judgement in favor of plaintiff, the
defendant local govt agency may be required by court to pay these of the plaintiff.
What is the liability of other officers present when a civil rights violation takes place? -
✓✓ You all share liability equally.
Conduit to the "Deep Pocket": Written Policy -✓✓ The individual employee's best
protection against liability. "Qualified Immunity" = doing what you're supposed to based
on policy/training.
If law doesn't exist at federal level, then you fall back on... -✓✓ Qualified Immunity
Causes of Workers' Compensation Claims (Police) -✓✓ 1. Injury from assault or
violence
2. Injured in/by motor vehicle
3. Injury from physical training
4. Strain or Injury from walking/running
5. Slip or Fall
, Top 2 Allegations Causing Police Liability Claims (Sued for) -✓✓ 1. Use of excessive
force
2. False arrest and/or imprisonment
*both are Constitutional violations (civil rights)
Causes of Police Auto Liability Claims -✓✓ 1. Cruiser struck other vehicle - intersection
collisions
2. Cruiser struck other vehicle - rear end accident
3. Cruiser struck other vehicle - backing
4. Cruiser - head-on
5. Cruiser - emergency response/pursuit (over $1 Million)
Lights and Sirens -✓✓ Emergency vehicles must have blue lights and sirens going per
the law when:
- park or stand
- proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be
necessary for safe operation
- Exceed the speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property
- disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified
directions
Emergency Vehicle operation -✓✓ An emergency vehicle driver shall not be relieved
from duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons.
Can a LEO be held liable for harm to a 3rd party by the person you're pursuing if
negligence? -✓✓ Yes
If you're pursuing someone and they get injured, are you held liable? -✓✓ No
Does a police vehicle always have the right-of-way on any street or road, regardless of
the circumstances? -✓✓ No
Brower v. County of Inyo (1989) -✓✓ Roadblocks should be used as a last resort
State Court -✓✓ Where cases should be heard unless a federal law has been broken.
A pursuit can be a civil rights violation only when the level of liability rises to.... -✓✓
Conduct that shocks the conscience
Haynes v. Hamilton County in 1994 -✓✓ The decision to chase or continue to chase a
car is regarded as conduct and can be considered negligent. You are liable.
As best that can be determined, the threshold for justifying high speed pursuit is: -✓✓
violent felony and maybe DUI
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
conduct that shocks the conscience -✓✓ Blatantly immoral to the reasonable person;
Thurman v. Torrington; very high cost
Plaintiff's 5 Front Attack -✓✓ 1. Facts of the Case (5 W's)
2. Policy (written)
3. Training
4. Supervision
5. Discipline
Canton v. Harris (1989) -✓✓ Officers should receive training and information for
foreseeable activities
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-202 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from
Unsafe Operation (negligence) of a Motor Vehicle
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-203 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from an
Unsafe (defective) Street, Alley, Sidewalk, and/or Traffic Control Device. Actual (known)
or Constructive (should've known) Notice Required.
Liability for Negligence is Based on 4 Elements -✓✓ 1. You had a duty to act.
2. You breached that duty.
3. Your breach of that duty was a proximate cause of the injury.
4. An actual injury or property damage did occur.
TN Govt Tort Liability Act: TCA 29-20-204 -✓✓ Removal of Immunity for Injury from
Dangerous Structures (public buildings/playgrounds). Actual (known) or Constructive
(should've known) Notice Required.
Public Duty Doctrine -✓✓ government functions are owed to the general public but not
to specific individuals thus there is generally no liability for failing to protect a member of
the public
Limits of Liability -✓✓ $300K for BI or death of 1 person (State limit $300K)
$700K for BI or death(s) of all persons/occurrence (3+)(State limit $1 Million); $100K for
property damage/occurrence
Personal Protections (TCA 29-20-310(b)) -✓✓ Individual protected against loss "for
damages for which the immunity of the govt entity is removed"
,Personal Protections (TCA 29-20-310c) -✓✓ Individual also protected by the statutory
limits since 1987
Punitive Damages -✓✓ Excluded by TN Supreme Ct in 1978 (Tipton v. Dennis); can't be
assessed in federal courts; Personal penalty against the individual.
No Double-Dipping (Personal Protections) -✓✓ If city/county/state can be sued, you as
an individual have immunity.
Federal Civil Rights code -✓✓ 42 USC Section 1983;
Protects individuals from abuse by govt officials.
Allows liability suits against public officials acting under "color of law" who violate
Constitutional rights.
Who may bring suit? -✓✓ Any citizen or other person
Who may be a defendant? -✓✓ Any person operating under color of law (or if you lead
someone to believe you're acting under color of law)
Monroe v. Pape (1961) -✓✓ Can sue a govt employee in federal court under section
1983. Focus was officer only.
Monell v. NYC (1978) -✓✓ Expanded definition of "persons" subject to section 1983
liability to include entity, agency, and department.
Reasonable Attorney Fees -✓✓ Section 1988. With judgement in favor of plaintiff, the
defendant local govt agency may be required by court to pay these of the plaintiff.
What is the liability of other officers present when a civil rights violation takes place? -
✓✓ You all share liability equally.
Conduit to the "Deep Pocket": Written Policy -✓✓ The individual employee's best
protection against liability. "Qualified Immunity" = doing what you're supposed to based
on policy/training.
If law doesn't exist at federal level, then you fall back on... -✓✓ Qualified Immunity
Causes of Workers' Compensation Claims (Police) -✓✓ 1. Injury from assault or
violence
2. Injured in/by motor vehicle
3. Injury from physical training
4. Strain or Injury from walking/running
5. Slip or Fall
, Top 2 Allegations Causing Police Liability Claims (Sued for) -✓✓ 1. Use of excessive
force
2. False arrest and/or imprisonment
*both are Constitutional violations (civil rights)
Causes of Police Auto Liability Claims -✓✓ 1. Cruiser struck other vehicle - intersection
collisions
2. Cruiser struck other vehicle - rear end accident
3. Cruiser struck other vehicle - backing
4. Cruiser - head-on
5. Cruiser - emergency response/pursuit (over $1 Million)
Lights and Sirens -✓✓ Emergency vehicles must have blue lights and sirens going per
the law when:
- park or stand
- proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be
necessary for safe operation
- Exceed the speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property
- disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified
directions
Emergency Vehicle operation -✓✓ An emergency vehicle driver shall not be relieved
from duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons.
Can a LEO be held liable for harm to a 3rd party by the person you're pursuing if
negligence? -✓✓ Yes
If you're pursuing someone and they get injured, are you held liable? -✓✓ No
Does a police vehicle always have the right-of-way on any street or road, regardless of
the circumstances? -✓✓ No
Brower v. County of Inyo (1989) -✓✓ Roadblocks should be used as a last resort
State Court -✓✓ Where cases should be heard unless a federal law has been broken.
A pursuit can be a civil rights violation only when the level of liability rises to.... -✓✓
Conduct that shocks the conscience
Haynes v. Hamilton County in 1994 -✓✓ The decision to chase or continue to chase a
car is regarded as conduct and can be considered negligent. You are liable.
As best that can be determined, the threshold for justifying high speed pursuit is: -✓✓
violent felony and maybe DUI
