Tennessee Attorney General Litigation
McKamey v. Skrmetti, et al.
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
Plaintiff: Russ McKamey
Defendants: Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter, and Carter Lawrence, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance / State Fire Marshal
Presiding Judge: Hon. Aleta A. Trauger
Filed March 29, 2024
Plaintiff: Russ McKamey
Defendants: Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter, and Carter Lawrence, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance / State Fire Marshal
Presiding Judge: Hon. Aleta A. Trauger
Filed March 29, 2024
District Case Dismissed • Appeal Voluntarily Dismissed March 4, 2026
Case Summary:
Russ McKamey brought this federal action against Tennessee Attorney
General Jonathan Skrmetti and State Fire Marshal Carter Lawrence.
McKamey sought emergency injunctive relief while challenging actions
involving Tennessee officials. The defendants moved to dismiss.
The federal district court ultimately dismissed the action in its
entirety. McKamey unsuccessfully sought to alter that judgment and
later appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The appeal was voluntarily dismissed in March 2026.
Russ McKamey
Tennessee Officials / AG
Federal Court
Sixth Circuit Appeal
Date
Docket
Filed By
Filing / Court Event
Document
2024
Mar. 29, 2024
Docket
1
Plaintiff
Federal Complaint Filed
Russ McKamey filed suit against Tennessee Attorney General
Jonathan Skrmetti and Carter Lawrence. The complaint included
McKamey's affidavit and numerous exhibits concerning communications,
inspections, requests for information, and related Tennessee
government activity.
Apr. 1, 2024
Docket
8–9
Plaintiff
Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction
McKamey filed an emergency motion seeking preliminary injunctive
relief and submitted a supporting memorandum.
—
Apr. 3–15, 2024
Docket
10–12
Service
Skrmetti and Lawrence Served
Summonses were issued for both defendants. Returns of service
later reflected service upon Jonathan Skrmetti and Carter Lawrence
on April 15, 2024.
—
Apr. 25, 2024
Docket
15
TN AG
Tennessee Opposes Emergency Injunction
Skrmetti and Lawrence filed their opposition to McKamey's
emergency request for a preliminary injunction. Their filing
included state-court materials, building and fire code excerpts,
and communications concerning the investigation.
Apr. 25, 2024
Docket
16–17
TN AG
Defendants Move to Dismiss
Skrmetti and Lawrence moved to dismiss the original complaint
and filed a supporting memorandum.
May 2, 2024
Docket
18
Plaintiff
Amended Complaint Filed
McKamey filed an amended complaint against Skrmetti and Lawrence,
again attaching his affidavit and several exhibits concerning
Tennessee's actions and communications.
May 2, 2024
Docket
19–20
Plaintiff
Amended Motion for Preliminary Injunction
McKamey filed an amended request for preliminary injunctive
relief together with a supporting memorandum.
May 2, 2024
Docket
21
Court
Original Motion to Dismiss Denied as Moot
Because McKamey filed an amended complaint, Judge Trauger
denied the defendants' first motion to dismiss as moot.
May 13, 2024
Docket
22
TN AG
Tennessee Opposes Amended Injunction Request
Skrmetti and Lawrence filed their response opposing McKamey's
amended emergency motion for preliminary injunction.
May 13, 2024
Docket
23–24
TN AG
Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint
Skrmetti and Lawrence moved to dismiss McKamey's amended
complaint and filed a supporting memorandum with exhibits.
May 20, 2024
Docket
25
Plaintiff
McKamey Replies in Support of Injunction
McKamey filed his reply supporting the amended motion for
preliminary injunction.
May 27, 2024
Docket
26
Plaintiff
McKamey Opposes Motion to Dismiss
McKamey filed his response opposing the defendants' motion
to dismiss the amended complaint.
Jun. 3, 2024
Docket
27
TN AG
Tennessee Files Reply Supporting Dismissal
Skrmetti and Lawrence filed their reply in further support
of dismissal of the amended complaint.
Jul. 31, 2024
Docket
28
Court
Original Injunction Motion Denied as Moot
Because McKamey had filed an amended injunction motion,
the court denied the earlier emergency injunction motion
as moot and continued the case management conference while
the amended injunction motion and motion to dismiss remained pending.
—
Aug. 22, 2024
Docket
29
Court
Memorandum Opinion Issued
Judge Aleta A. Trauger issued the court's memorandum opinion
addressing the defendants' motion to dismiss the amended complaint.
Aug. 22, 2024
Docket
30–31
Court
Case Dismissed in Its Entirety
The court granted the motion to dismiss filed by Skrmetti and
Lawrence and dismissed McKamey's federal case in its entirety.
McKamey's amended preliminary injunction request was denied as moot.
Final judgment was entered.
Sep. 17, 2024
Docket
32–33
Plaintiff
Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment
McKamey asked the district court to alter or amend its judgment
dismissing the lawsuit and filed a supporting memorandum.
Oct. 10, 2024
Docket
39
TN AG
Tennessee Opposes Motion to Alter Judgment
Skrmetti and Lawrence filed their response opposing McKamey's
request to alter or amend the dismissal judgment.
Oct. 24, 2024
Docket
42
Plaintiff
McKamey Files Rule 59 Reply
McKamey filed his reply in support of the motion to alter
or amend the judgment.
Dec. 23, 2024
Docket
43–44
Court
Court Refuses to Alter Dismissal Judgment
Judge Trauger issued another memorandum opinion and denied
McKamey's motion to alter or amend the judgment under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e).
2025
Jan. 21, 2025
Docket
45
Appeal
McKamey Appeals Dismissal
McKamey filed a notice of appeal challenging the dismissal,
the August 2024 memorandum opinion and order, and the December
2024 decision denying his motion to alter or amend judgment.
Mar. 4, 2025
Docket
46
6th Cir.
Sixth Circuit Appeal Opened
The United States Court of Appeals assigned appellate case
number 25-5178 to McKamey's appeal.
—
2026
Mar. 4, 2026
Docket
47
6th Cir.
Appeal Voluntarily Dismissed
The Sixth Circuit granted the parties' joint stipulation to
voluntarily dismiss the appeal pursuant to Federal Rule of
Appellate Procedure 42(b). The appeal was dismissed.