The lawsuit was filed back in February of 2023 and has been stalled in court ever since. This is due to Lenoir City attorney's T. Scott Jones, constant delay actions. Ultimately, the case will be heard on it's merits where the facts of the case will be heard.

A short review, in 2020, the city committed the first illegal annexation. Apparently, feeling they got away with it once, they committed a second illegal annexation in 2022. Both annexations were clear violations of state law. The county tried every way possible to avoid any litigation, but Aikens wouldn't hear it. He is more than happy to spend as much county and city tax payer money as he can to try to cover his illegal actions.