Florida became the most recent state in the nation to enact a liability shield law for businesses when Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 72 earlier this week.  The legislation, which is the first concrete action taken by the legislature this session and the first signed into law by DeSantis this year, sets a high legal standard for COVID-19 actions against a business to move forward. Under the new law, which took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature, COVID-19 claims against a business now require an affidavit from a medical professional that the plaintiff contracted COVID at the business and must accompany “clear and convincing evidence” of “gross negligence” on the part of the company.  Further, lawsuits filed under the law must be filed within one year of the governor’s signing on March 29. Passage came mostly along party lines, 83-31 in the House and 24-15 in the senate with Senator Linda Stewart of Orlando being the only democrat to vote in support of the bill. A lawsuit may still be brought against a company if it is alleged that the business did not take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.