Sevier Building

Scorch marks are seen on the John Sevier State Office Building in Nashville on Nov. 24, 2020

 Photo: Erik Schelzig/Tennessee Journal

The state of Tennessee is suing Hardaway Construction Corp. and its insurers over a fire that damaged the newly reopened John Sevier Building last year.

Attorney General Herbert Slatery, whose offices are located in the Sevier Building adjacent to the state Capitol, filed the suit in Davidson County Chancery Court on Tuesday. The litigation seeks $820,000 to cover damages from the fire, which reportedly started in a portable toilet left at the site by Hardaway.