NASHVILLE (AP) — The owner of a guardrail company has sued the Tennessee Department of Transportation, arguing his company's suspension violates a 2006 agreement in a separate case.

Novice "Joey" Cole's lawsuit also claims TDOT's suspension of his Lu Inc., company relies on protected testimony he gave to federal investigators about a former TDOT worker who has admitted he solicited and accepted $30,000 in bribes.

Cole's lawyer Harold Donnelly told The Tennessean (http://bit.ly/mQdSOz ) his client is being punished for telling the truth to investigators.

TDOT officials declined comment on the lawsuit.

The suspension means Cole's companies cannot work on state-funded road projects for at least a year.