Tennessee Settles Two Mental Retardation Services Lawsuits

April 12, 2004 Tennessee Settles Two Mental Retardation Services Lawsuits On March 19, 2004, Tennessee agreed to settle two lawsuits for services for mentally retarded citizens at a first-year cost projected at $18 million, which Governor Phil Bredesen has included in his fiscal year 2004 budget. The two lawsuits were filed four years ago alleging the state was not providing adequate help to the mentally retarded and their families in a timely manner as required by law. Instead, according to the suits brought by advocates, the state was placing the developmentally disabled on lengthy waiting lists. There are an . . .