Companies fear coronavirus liability lawsuits. So far, few exist

FILE PHOTO: David Vladeck, chair in civil procedure at the Georgetown University Law Center, testifies remotely during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining liability issues amid the coronavirus disease outbreak on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool

As of Wednesday, only 45 of 1,018 coronavirus-related lawsuits were personal injury or medical malpractice cases against a business, the areas of most concern for trade groups. The analysis was based on a case tracker by the Hunton Andrews Kurth law firm. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wanted to “make sure opportunistic trial lawyers are not lurking on the sidewalk outside every small business in America, waiting to slap them with a lawsuit the instant they turn the lights back on.”

Consumer groups have argued that current law provides adequate protection for businesses that act in good faith. About a third of the cases filed have been brought by prisoners seeking release from a coronavirus-hit facility. Hundreds more have been brought by businesses, mostly over insurance coverage or contracts.

Harold Kim, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, said that surveys have shown businesses are worried about lawsuits and the number of cases is rising.

Business Business Latest News, Business Business Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

China is producing higher value goods — even as factories are shifting away from the mainlandChinese companies are developing and producing more high valued goods, while companies are moving production out of the country due the trade war with the U.S. and the coronavirus pandemic. Tired of winning yet? VoteBlueToEndThisNightmare Stuff China Low price products manufacturers will be moved to lower labor force countries like Vietnam, Thailand and other southeast Asian countries. And China will upgrade their industrial system like some kind of economic natural evolution.
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »