352, 369-70 (Tenn.2011) (discussing the manner in which section 29-20-205(2) applies); Limbaugh v. Coffee Med. Ctr., 59 S.W.3d 73, 84 (Tenn.2001) (same). The GTLA vests circuit courts with “exclusive original jurisdiction over any action brought under this chapter [the GTLA]” and declares that circuit courts “shall hear and decide such suits without the intervention of a jury.” Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-307 GTLA and for which “immunity is removed by” the GTLA are subject to its provisions. Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 2920-201(c), -307. Consequently, the GTLA “leaves significant areas of activities either protected by immunity or subject to independent bodies of law.” Cruse, 922 S.W.2d at 496; see also Jenkins, 736 S.W.2d at 609; Simpson v. Sumner Cnty., 669 S.W.2d 657, 660-62 (Tenn.Ct.App.1983) (<HOLDING>). In Cruse, this Court considered whether the
holding that the gtla does not apply to contract claims against governmental entities holding section 1010215 does not waive governmental immunity merely because a governmental action falls within the listed governmental functions thus further inquiry under the act is necessary holding that the legislature has in clear and unambiguous language waived sovereign immunity against elected public officials and governmental entities defined by the act to be employers holding that the sovereign immunity afforded to tribes extends to their governmental organizations and business entities holding that the rule does not apply to bar tort claims against service providers