Gary Thacker, et ux., Petitioners v. Tennessee Valley Authority

The case asked whether the Tennessee Valley Authority could avoid a lawsuit by using a discretionary-function rule borrowed from the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Supreme Court said TVA's immunity must be judged under its own "sue and be sued" statute rather than that FTCA-based approach.

The decision affects people who sue TVA over injuries tied to its operations, such as accidents involving power equipment or waterways. It also matters for other government-created corporations that Congress allowed to "sue and be sued."

The Supreme Court has finished with this case. Any remaining proceedings would happen outside the Supreme Court under the rule the justices announced.

The dispute was over whether TVA could use an immunity rule borrowed from the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Court said TVA's own statute controls that question.

People injured in incidents involving TVA operations are directly affected. The ruling also matters to lawyers and judges handling suits against federal corporations with similar statutes.

The Supreme Court's work on this case is done. Any further case-specific action would take place in lower courts or through settlement talks.