• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Groups want liability reforms tossed

Groups want liability reforms tossed

May 21, 2009 By WRN Contributor

Dozens of business groups and other organizations want proposed changes to liability laws removed from the state budget.

The provisions included in the state budget would rewrite how courts and juries determine who is financially responsible for paying damages. Ed Lump with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association says the changes would result in lawsuits that target a large number of defendants, because it would allow trial lawyers to go after multiple people in the hopes of obtaining large settlements. He says it could also increase the cost of liability insurance.

Groups rallied at the Capitol Thursday, with many focusing their attention on a provision restoring Joint and Several Liability. Abe Degnan, who owns a construction company, says it could force them to pay large settlements, even if they're only partially at fault.

Several speakers made the argument that they could be only one-percent liable in a lawsuit, but end up covering 100-percent of damages under the changes.

Keith Clifford with the Wisconsin Association of Justice says those fears are "nonsense." He says those arguing against the reforms ignore the needs of injured workers and their families, who may have a hard time getting justice under current law.

Clifford says the changes largely restore liability laws that were in place until 1995. A study by the State Bar of Wisconsin showed the average liability of defendants in cases before then was 35-percent.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:12)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature



Featured Stories

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Bucks drop second straight, fall at home to Lakers

Hockey Badgers grab series opener at Penn State

Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson named WCHA 1970’s Player of the Decade

Ted Thompson passed away at age 68 (AUDIO)

TwitterFacebook

Listen Now | More from Titletown ยป

Sports Headlines

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Bucks drop second straight, fall at home to Lakers

Hockey Badgers grab series opener at Penn State

Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson named WCHA 1970’s Player of the Decade

Ted Thompson passed away at age 68 (AUDIO)

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC