Texans for Lawsuit Reform

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In the News

McConnell Demands Liability Protections in Next Coronavirus Bill

Bloomberg, April 27, 2020

By Steven T. Dennis, Billy House, and Laura Litvan

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday the next coronavirus relief legislation must include liability protections for business owners who reopen and indicated he would be open to some aid for beleaguered states.

The House and Senate both plan to convene in Washington on May 4 and resume business with the expectation of additional action to respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has shut down businesses and thrown millions of people out of work.

As some states begin gradually lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions, McConnell said that without protection from lawsuits, business owners could end up with years of legal claims over their efforts to restart the economy.

“Our response must not be slowed, weakened or exploited to set up the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history,” he said in a statement.

The declaration is the latest marker put down by McConnell before the next and possibly last relief package before the November election. He also warned Democrats against adding liberal “wish lists” to the bill.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants the House to take the lead in writing the next pandemic response package and is headed for a clash with McConnell over what to include. One flashpoint is sure to be over aid to states and cities faced with falling tax revenue and escalating expenses because of the pandemic. The National Governors Association has said states need at least $500 billion in assistance.

McConnell has taken credit for blocking aid to state and local governments sought by Democrats in last week’s $484 billion rescue package. He said last week he wasn’t interested in the federal government providing “revenue replacement” to states that are struggling to fulfill obligations for public employee pensions and that they should be allowed to declare bankruptcy.

In his statement Monday, McConnell said Congress can’t get distracted by “calls to paper over decades of reckless decisions that had nothing to do with Covid-19.”

But in a later interview on Fox News Radio, McConnell said he anticipates there will be additional aid for state and local governments in the next aid package, but he wants to ensure those funds aren’t used to address pension shortfalls or other “past mistakes.”

McConnell also said he “wasn’t recommending” that states declare bankruptcy, just that they should have the option.

McConnell in the interview characterized his demand for liability protections for small firms as his “red line” for the next bill. Otherwise, he said, those helping to restart the economy will face “an avalanche” of lawsuits from plaintiffs’ lawyers.

With testing still limited and no vaccine on the immediate horizon, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged government protection for businesses, warning that personal-injury lawsuits could bankrupt firms.

In his statement on the Senate returning to business, McConnell said the Senate will modify its routines “in ways that are smart and safe” so members can “conduct critical business in person.”

“If it is essential for doctors, nurses, health care workers, truck drivers, grocery-store workers, and many other brave Americans to keep carefully manning their own duty stations, then it is essential for senators to carefully man ours and support them,” he said.

Separately, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Democrats on a conference call Monday that the House would be in session next week and that votes may be held.

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

6 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

When 30-year-old Quinnton Allen violated his parole for possession of a firearm, a Houston judge not only allowed him to stay on parole but granted him a PR bond for a felony. Unfortunately, the decision to release him on bond may have cost a man’s life. Read and share: bit.ly/3OvDU5z ... See MoreSee Less

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29-year-old man murdered after judge grants felony PR bond to armed robber recently paroled from prison

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HOUSTON – “I’ve never had any of these defendants we’ve profiled on Breaking Bond on parole and on a felony PR bond charged with murder,” said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers. “This is a fi...
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That judge should be held accountable

His family should get a good lawyer & sue the city & the judge…

The judge should be held as an accomplice to the murder before the fact and sued in civil court for his contribution to the death of the citizen.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

1 day ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Texas ports are thriving today, but in the early 2000s, abusive personal injury lawsuits threatened to shut them down. As the Port of Houston begins a long-awaited expansion, read more about the common-sense lawsuit reform in 2007 that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: bit.ly/3aeTy6n ... See MoreSee Less

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July! ... See MoreSee Less

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July!
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Happy Independence Day America Today we celebrate our Republic 🇺🇸


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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
6h 1544713193846603777

When 30-year-old Quinnton Allen violated his parole for possession of a firearm, a Houston judge not only allowed him to stay on parole but granted him a PR bond for a felony. The decision to release him on bond may have cost a man’s life. Read & RT:

29-year-old man murdered after judge grants felony PR bond to armed robber recently paroled from prison

HOUSTON – “I’ve never had any of these defendants we’ve profiled on Breaking Bond on parole and on a felony PR bond charged with m...

bit.ly

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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
5 Jul 1544441042120089600

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup to receive a daily digest of headlines & news stories about #lawsuitreform from Texas & around the country!

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Please use the form below to receive a daily digest of TLR Clips - headlines and news stories about lawsuit reform from Texas and around the country.

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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
5 Jul 1544407069297614851

Texas ports are thriving, but in the early 2000s, abusive lawsuits threatened to shut them down. Read more about the common-sense reform that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: https://bit.ly/3aeTy6n

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform
1701 Brun Street
Houston, Texas 77019

Ph. 713-963-9363
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