Jackson Free Press

After a long floor debate today, the Mississippi House of Representatives voted 76-38 to concur with the Senate strike-all version of HB 13 — a bill that institutes $1 million damage caps on general business liability and removes the exemption for disfigurement. Rep Ed Blackmon—who had previously said he would not support any non-economic damage caps—made the motion to concur with the bill (which means it will go straight for the governor's signature). The measure passed 76-38 at 2:19 this afternoon.

Rep. Jamie Franks, D-Tupelo, moved to send the bill to conference instead, which would have meant that the Houses could have hammered out a compromise that was more friendly to consumers. His motion failed. The bill now held on a motion to reconsider until Friday.

The bill's language is available here.

Previous Comments

ID

85075

Comment

It seems that the only thing needed to "end" lawsuit abuse was for the House to pass the Senate's damage caps. [VERBATIM STATEMENT] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 3, 2004 GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR PRAISES LEGISLATURE FOR ENDING LAWSUIT ABUSE (Jackson, Miss.) à Today the House joined the Senate in passing a comprehensive tort reform bill that will be effective in ending lawsuit abuse in Mississippi. The bill is being held over until tomorrow. "We are not taking anything for granted, but I think it would be inappropriate for me to wait to give credit to a lot of people who deserve it," said Governor Barbour during a press conference late Thursday afternoon. "Success has a thousand fathers, but in the case of both Houses passing this compromise bill, there is plenty of credit to go around," he added. The House voted today to concur with the Senate on a bill that will cap non-economic damages at $1 million, protect innocent sellers, reform venue codes and enact other reforms aimed at limiting lawsuit abuse. Local community leaders, small businesses, the medical community, manufacturers, the financial services sector and others fought a long battle for the passage of this legislation. Governor Barbour specifically thanked Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, Speaker Billy McCoy, Senator Travis Little, Representative J.P. Compretta, Chairmen Charlie Ross and Ed Blackmon, Representatives Jeff Smith and Jim Simpson, Senators Ralph Doxey and Tommy Robertson, and all House and Senate members who voted for comprehensive tort reform. "I urge you not to overlook the leaders who were not originally supporters, but who were willing to compromise," said Governor Barbour. "First of all, Speaker McCoy, without whom this compromise and today's decision could not have been accomplished; Speaker Pro Tem J.P. Compretta who played a vital role; and Chairman Ed Blackmon deserves tremendous credit for setting aside his personal preferences and allowing a compromise that a majority supported. I appreciate and thank them all," he added. Governor Barbour plans to sign the tort reform bill immediately.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-06-03T18:26:06-06:00

ID

85076

Comment

Here's an interesting comment from an intriguing source who was responding on a forum to one of our pieces about insurance reform (two words The Clarion-Ledger doesn't seem able to in print): Jackson Free Press article on Insurance Reform Jackson finally has some alternative news sources that do not spout the pre-canned garbage that the Clarion-Ledger always does. This is an interesting article on the Tort Reform debate. I hope you will all give it a read. ]http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/mor...d=3058_0_27_0_M Now, go look at the source of this: http://www.rebelarmy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534 http://www.rebelarmy.com The truth is, even the guys in pick-ups trucks with Confederate flags should be--and are?--worried about Bush-Barbour ideas of handing our Constitution wholesale over to big industry. Oh, and apparently the House bowed to the pressure decided to go along with the plan today. It's shameful. And people ask me why I won't claim a political party. Bring along a true populist party that cares about the people and I'm there. Until then, I'm a GD independent, as we used to say at Mississippi State.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-06-03T19:51:40-06:00