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WASHINGTON, D.C, May 19, 2006 – Kansas has shown that the
states, not Congress, are taking a leadership role in asbestos
litigation reform, according to the American Justice Partnership
(AJP), a coalition of national and local organizations that
promotes legal reform at the state level.
While asbestos
reform has been stalled in Washington for a decade, the
Republican state legislature and Democratic governor of Kansas
succeeded in passing landmark legislation barring mass asbestos
suits from Kansas courtrooms. This bipartisan effort ensures
that Kansas will not become a haven for venue-shopping personal
injury lawyers. State business groups, led by The Kansas Chamber
of Commerce, played a key role in pushing this legislation.
“The people of
Kansas should be proud that their political leaders put
partisanship aside and passed a bill that will curb merit less
litigation, improve the business climate, and promote capital
investment,” said AJP president Dan Pero. “The Kansas Chamber of
Commerce deserves credit for rallying the business community
behind this critical reform effort.”
A Rand Corporation
study shows U.S. companies have already paid an estimated $70
billion on more than 700,000 lawsuits, according to the AJP.
Less than half the money went to plaintiffs, with personal
injury lawyers pocketing the bulk of the rest.
“A few
unscrupulous trial lawyers have flooded courts across America
with hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits on behalf of
people who are not sick and may never get sick,” Pero said.
“This legislation weeds out merit less cases by allowing only
people who can link actual illness to actual asbestos exposure
to take part in a lawsuit.”
The AJP singled
out Democrat Governor Kathleen Sebelius for her leadership. “As
the first Democratic Governor to sign asbestos reform into law,
Governor Sebelius has shown the courage to put the interests of
the people first.”
The Kansas
legislation enjoyed massive, bipartisan support, passing the
Senate 40-0 and The House 111-11. “While Kansas is only the
fifth state to pass asbestos reform, this is a huge victory
compared to the glacial pace of action in Congress,” Pero said.
“AJP is committed to helping other states follow Kansas’ lead
and enact meaningful asbestos litigation reform.” |
