Karl Davidson has 11 chronic medical conditions, ranging from diabetes to skin cancer, and takes scores of prescription medications—all of which precludes the 58-year-old Nashville resident (above) from getting private health coverage.

So when he was among the more than 200,000 removed from TennCare, Tennessee’s state-run health program for low-income and disabled residents, in August 2005, Davidson was distraught—and suspicious. He’d been part of a sit-in at the governor’s office protesting possible cuts to TennCare enrollment, so losing his own coverage seemed more like revenge than anything else.

Now Davidson is suing Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, D, and five senior state officials, claiming that they conspired “to willfully and maliciously carry out the systematic and illegal dismantling of TennCare,” which covers 1.2 million people. Further, the suit says, the motivation behind Davidson’s removal from the program came from the “public embarrassment” the sit-in caused Bredesen.

Davidson is asking the state to restore his health coverage, and he wants damages. Since losing coverage, the father of two grown sons says he’s had to forgo several medications and postponed surgery.

“I am constantly stressed over my inability to afford proper medical attention and I fear that some of my medical conditions could suddenly become critical and I might die simply because of no insurance,” he says.

Bredesen is mum on the suit, citing a policy not to comment on active litigation.