The General Jackson Showboat floats in the Cumberland River as the Opry Mills shopping complex stands in floodwaters from the Cumberland in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, May 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments on whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Gaylord Entertainment Co. seeking money for property damage to its luxury hotel and convention center, the Grand Ole Opry and other sites during the 2010 flooding of the Cumberland River.
District Judge Todd Campbell will hear arguments today on whether the Army Corps of Engineers can be held liable for releasing water from a dam when more than 13 inches of rain fell over two days.
The company says it sustained more than $250 million in damages and claims the Corps failed to plan ahead to create additional storage in the dam's reservoir. Justice department attorneys claim federal law prevents the government from being held liable for damage caused by the flood.