Government wants Opry flood lawsuit dismissed

The Associated Press, Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 2:39pm (PST)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An attorney for Gaylord Entertainment Company is arguing in federal court that the Army Corps of Engineers was negligent in its response to massive flooding in 2010 in Tennessee that damaged its property including the Grand Ole Opry.

Gaylord sued the agency over $250 million in damage to the Opry, its hotel and convention center.

Attorney Robert Patterson argued in court Wednesday that corps officials failed to lower the water level of the Cumberland River behind the Old Hickory Dam. And then after more than 13 inches of rain fell over two days, they released water from the dam that caused flooding on their property.

Department of Justice attorneys asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuits filed by Gaylord and other businesses, arguing federal law prevents the government from being held liable for damage caused by flooding.