Contractor Sues State Over Suspension
The owner of a guardrail company has sued the Tennessee Department of Transportation, arguing his company’s suspension violates a 2006 agreement in a separate case.
Novice “Joey” Cole’s lawsuit also claims TDOT’s suspension of his Lu Inc., company relies on protected testimony he gave to federal investigators about a former TDOT worker who has admitted he solicited and accepted $30,000 in bribes.
Cole’s lawyer Harold Donnelly told The Tennessean his client is being punished for telling the truth to investigators.
TDOT officials declined comment on the lawsuit.
The suspension means Cole’s companies cannot work on state-funded road projects for at least a year.
