Well, this item might not affect our smaller business subscribers, but it’s worth taking note of nonetheless. As businesses across the country continue to push for adoption of liability shield legislation relating COVID-19 lawsuits, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week signed legislation repealing liability protections he granted health care facilities just last July! You…
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…
In the absence of a national policy limiting business liability against claims that stem from the coronavirus pandemic, more states are stepping up with limited liability protection to ensure that small businesses are not unfairly subjected to frivolous litigation. Most recently, the state of West Virginia became the latest state to put a law on…
Two different state senate bodies recently passed legislation that will shield various businesses from liability for COVID-19 infections. In Kentucky, where the house had passed liability shield legislation in January, the state senate passed its owned version which protects businesses from pandemic related lawsuits unless the business engaged in “wanton, willful, malicious or grossly negligent…
When Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed SB.1 into law last week, the Hoosier State became the most recent to enact a liability shield law to protect businesses from lawsuits regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The new Indiana law provides protection from frivolous lawsuits for businesses, schools, health care providers, governments and other entities from lawsuits alleging…
The Florida Senate Committee on the Judiciary early this week passed Senate Bill 72, which provides liability protection from frivolous lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, entitled Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19, protects businesses against a COVID-19 related claim specifically requires a (state) court to dismiss without prejudice any lawsuit where…
Notwithstanding continuing unfulfilled promises of business liability shields from COVID lawsuits at the federal level, a number of additional states are now considering implementing their own liability shields at the state level. Currently, both Indiana and Florida are considering bills filed for the new legislative sessions that would provide a level of immunity from potentially…
Congressional leaders indicated that a COVID-19 relief package was “close, but not yet final” yesterday as they worked on reaching compromise language on a few outstanding issues. The situation however is very fluid with a host of issues potentially addressed – or created – by the legislation. That said, there is no actual legislative language…
It’s beginning to look like we’ll have to wait until the Georgia runoff elections are over and decided until we see any further movement on a new COVID relief bill out of Congress. Although momentum seemed to be building over the past week or so, control of the US Senate may be getting “in the…
As we trudge along to a presidential winner, the question of business COVID-19 liability shields for businesses continues to generate discussion. Yesterday in DC, the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development & Insurance held a virtual public hearing on H.R. 7011, The Pandemic Risk Reinsurance Act (PRIA). This legislation, filed by Congresswoman…
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