TALLAHASSEE, FL May 3, 2005
— The Florida Senate today advanced two key components
of broad legal reforms supported by the Florida Justice
Reform Institute — SB 1790 and CS/SB 2562 both moved to
3rd reading in the Senate and are now
awaiting final passage.
“We commend the Florida Senate for advancing
common-sense reforms to help control the abusive
lawsuits that deny justice to those most in need,” said
Pam Philp, director of the Florida Justice Reform
Institute. “The Legislature has taken another big step
toward unclogging our courts and reducing the tort tax
every Floridian pays.”
The Florida Supreme Court, in a ruling that increased
every Floridian’s electricity bill, exposed utility
companies to the threat of expensive lawsuits which hold
them liable for accidents or incidents that happen near
a burned-out streetlight. SB 1790 provides fair
measures to ensure companies that responsibly maintain
their equipment are protected from unjustifiable
lawsuits.
In recent years, healthy claimants have clogged
Florida’s courts with lawsuits alleging asbestos
exposure. Trial lawyers seek out plaintiffs with only
minimal exposure to asbestos, which prevents truly sick
claimants from promptly receiving their deserved
compensation. CS/SB 2562 creates standards to ensure
that those who are truly ill from asbestos exposure
receive just compensation.
CS/SB 2562 has been strongly opposed by the Academy of
Florida Trial Lawyers, representing a legal industry
that stands to lose billions of dollars when reforms are
enacted. According to a study by the RAND corporation,
only about 43 cents of every dollar spent on asbestos
litigation has gone to actual victims.
The
Florida Justice
Reform Institute, which has been joined
by more than two dozen state and national associations,
is leading a long-term effort to promote civil justice
reforms that return common sense and predictability to
our civil justice system while holding businesses and
individuals liable for their share of fault.
