Today's Knoxville News Sentinel has an op-ed by Kenny Anderson defending digital LED billboards, saying they are safe and create new jobs. He also applauds Mayor Haslam for "trying to avoid a costly lawsuit."

Putting aside the safety and aesthetics debate surrounding digital billboards for a moment, what's the deal with corporate interests suing or threatengin to sue local governments over various ordinances designed to improve or at least protect their communities?

There ought to be a law or something.

But I guess it works both ways, if for example a local government passes something like a stormwater ordinance that weakens environmental protections.