NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee will continue to be banned from enforcing a newly passed law requiring some online auctioneers to be licensed as a lawsuit questioning the statute’s constitutionality moves through court.
U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson had previously granted a temporary restraining order right before the law would kick in on July 1. However, this week, Richardson agreed to continue that ban after ruling the law could cause “irreparable harm” for certain smaller auctioneers if the law was enacted. The law exempts big auction websites like eBay.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee filed the lawsuit in June for two online auctioneer groups and the Interstate Auction Association.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Herbert Slatery has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
