Legislation News

From Penn Record

Kentucky governor vetoes bill on ALI's controversial Restatement; Override possible amid coronavirus concerns

By Nicholas Malfitano | 23 hours ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Legislation clarifying that the American Law Institute’s controversial insurance liability Restatement does not constitute law or public policy if it conflicts with established federal, state or case law overwhelmingly passed in Kentucky but was vetoed Tuesday by Gov. Andy Beshear.

From Penn Record

Two more states pass measures targeting controversial Restatement issued by American Law Institute

By Nicholas Malfitano | 3 days ago

PHILADELPHIA – Legislation stating the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance does not constitute law or public policy if it conflicts with established federal, state or case law recently passed in the states of Utah and Kentucky.

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Protections for N.Y. health care providers from coronavirus lawsuits included in budget

By John O'Brien | Apr 4, 2020

ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Legislation passed in New York in response to the coronavirus protects medical facilities and their staff from lawsuits as long as their behavior isn't reckless.

New Virginia law resets clock for asbestos plaintiffs, overturns Supreme Court decision

By John Breslin | Mar 31, 2020

RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Virginia legislators have passed a bill in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision over when a lawsuit can be filed in relation to asbestos-connected conditions and injuries.

Coal company sues Kentucky's Public Service Commission over new policy

By Charmaine Little | Mar 27, 2020

A coal company has taken its issues with Kentucky Public Service Commission officers and the state’s attorney general to the U.S.

From Penn Record

American Law Institute 'at a crossroads' as it works on newest Restatement, member says

By Nicholas Malfitano | 15 days ago

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia-based American Law Institute continues its work on a Restatement meant to give legal clarity to the arena of consumer contracts - a project that has been put on the back-burner and serves as a "litmus test" as to how the influential group will be perceived, a member says.

First-of-its-kind asbestos litigation reform held up by coronavirus

By John Breslin | Mar 26, 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa legislators have passed a bill addressing the naming of too-many defendants in asbestos lawsuits.

They wanted to cripple 3M, but in midst of pandemic, Dem senators now want to take it over

By John O'Brien | Mar 25, 2020

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Senators who supported legislation that would have possibly bankrupted 3M are now hoping to take over the company in order to control the distribution of its products that can help treat the coronavirus pandemic and prevent its spread.

Texas AG asked to let state workers know they don't have to pay union dues if they don't want to

By Scott Holland | Mar 25, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — A nonprofit instrumental in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding union fees is urging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to adopt is recommendations concerning right to work laws and forced union membership.

Coronavirus legislation in New Jersey pulled without a vote; Insurers call bill 'radical'

By John O'Brien | Mar 18, 2020

TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The future of coronavirus legislation proposed by New Jersey lawmakers is uncertain after the insurance industry expressed concerns it was short-sighted and ignored contract law.

From Penn Record

'Pillaging them, that's the point': Serial plaintiff on tape describing how to take advantage of TCPA

By Nicholas Malfitano | 24 days ago

PHILADELPHIA – Recorded conversations prove a Pennsylvania man who has filed dozens of lawsuits is intentionally taking advantage of a federal law to extort settlements from defendants, says one of the companies he has targeted.

House passes coronavirus relief bill with limited liability protection for medical mask makers

By Michael Carroll | Mar 16, 2020

A coronavirus relief bill passed by the House of Representatives early Saturday morning fell short of what medical mask manufacturers had sought to reduce their liability risks during the crisis.

Democrats pressed to back coronavirus legislation that protects mask-makers from lawsuits

By Michael Carroll | Mar 12, 2020

House Democrats have agreed this week to extend some liability protections to manufacturers of masks that can protect health professionals from the coronavirus, Legal Newsline has learned.

Lawmakers in Oklahoma, West Virginia the latest to call for rejection of ALI's insurance Restatement

By Nicholas Malfitano | Mar 10, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – Oklahoma and West Virginia can be added to the growing list of states seeking to formally reject the American Law Institute’s controversial Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance - a project that some see as evidence of an ideological shift at the organization that amounts to a power-trip.

Tennessee Supreme Court rules statutory cap on noneconomic damages is constitutional

By Solange DeLisle | Mar 10, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Supreme Court of Tennessee has found the statutory cap on noneconomic damages in the Tennessee Code doesn't violate the right to a trial by jury, the separation of powers, or the equal protection provisions of the state constitution.

From Penn Record

Elizabeth Warren's Trojan Horse

By The Pennsylvania Record | 1 month ago

Populated by zealous Obama administration holdovers, the CFPB is unaccountable to Trump and taxpayers.

Iowa legislation targets asbestos lawyers who blame more defendants than they can prove

By Legal News Line | Feb 21, 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – Plaintiffs claiming injuries from asbestos and silica would have to establish a basis for suing each defendant under a bill the Senate Judiciary Committee passed on Feb. 18.

Bill in Ohio seeks to set PFAS limit at least as strong as federal government's advisory

By Karen Kidd | Feb 18, 2020

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Two suburban Columbus lawmakers have sponsored a bill to provide state-level standards for contaminants in drinking water in Ohio, including perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination levels that haven't been formally determined by the federal government.

Media prevail in court battle over whether Washington lawmakers are subject to Public Records Act

By Rich Peters | Feb 18, 2020

The Washington state Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that legislators are subject to the state Public Records Act (PRA), marking a historic ruling for news and media outlets as well as other advocates of open-record policies.

From WV Record

W.Va. lawmakers introduce bills that would monitor, regulate use of PFAS in state

By Chris Dickerson | 2 months ago

CHARLESTON – Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require companies that recently have used PFAS to monitor the discharge of those chemicals into water sources.

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