Trial Lawyer's Email Proves Tort Reform Effective, State House And Senate Republican Leaders Say
An Oklahoma City law firm's email to plaintiffs urging them to file lawsuits before tort reform becomes law in November is proof that trial attorneys fear that the change will be effective in limiting frivolous lawsuits, House and Senate leaders said today.
The email, sent from an attorney with the Merritt & Associates law firm last week, says “Danger! Tort reform legislation effective November 1. File your lawsuits now!”
House Speaker Chris Benge said the email proves the new law is a significant step toward cutting down on frivolous lawsuits while clearing the way for legitimate claims.
“This email, while very concerning, should serve as an example of why we passed tort reform,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We believe the law passed last session will have the effect of attracting businesses and creating jobs in our state.”
For over a decade, House and Senate Republicans have sought reforms to Oklahoma’s justice system, where frivolous lawsuits have increased health care costs, driven talented doctors out of our state because of high malpractice insurance rates and told companies to look to more business-friendly states when considering relocation or jobs creation.
“My top priority when first elected to the State Senate eleven years ago was to enact real and meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The activists in the Trial Bar fought this reform tooth and nail, and some of them still can’t accept the new reality.
“Throughout the process of passing lawsuit reform, this particular law firm was Oklahoma’s Chicken Little, and now they are proclaiming that the sky will fall in November,” Coffee continued. “In fact, the skies will open, and Oklahoma will open for business when HB 1603 goes into effect.”
Rep. Dan Sullivan, House author of this year’s lawsuit reform legislation, House Bill 1603, said the email also falsely claims joint and several liability is abolished by the bill. The legislation limits joint and several liability to instances where a tortfeasor is more than 50 percent liable.
“The attorney who sent this email expressed deep opposition to change and tried to rally his colleagues to try to stop reform. Now that he was unsuccessful in defending the status quo, he is trying to encourage people to file lawsuits prior to the law taking effect whether they have merit or not,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “This email is nothing but an opportunistic attempt to get lawsuits on the books, regardless of their merit, by lawyers who will go to any lengths to prey on vulnerable Oklahomans.”
The email, sent from an attorney with the Merritt & Associates law firm last week, says “Danger! Tort reform legislation effective November 1. File your lawsuits now!”
House Speaker Chris Benge said the email proves the new law is a significant step toward cutting down on frivolous lawsuits while clearing the way for legitimate claims.
“This email, while very concerning, should serve as an example of why we passed tort reform,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We believe the law passed last session will have the effect of attracting businesses and creating jobs in our state.”
For over a decade, House and Senate Republicans have sought reforms to Oklahoma’s justice system, where frivolous lawsuits have increased health care costs, driven talented doctors out of our state because of high malpractice insurance rates and told companies to look to more business-friendly states when considering relocation or jobs creation.
“My top priority when first elected to the State Senate eleven years ago was to enact real and meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The activists in the Trial Bar fought this reform tooth and nail, and some of them still can’t accept the new reality.
“Throughout the process of passing lawsuit reform, this particular law firm was Oklahoma’s Chicken Little, and now they are proclaiming that the sky will fall in November,” Coffee continued. “In fact, the skies will open, and Oklahoma will open for business when HB 1603 goes into effect.”
Rep. Dan Sullivan, House author of this year’s lawsuit reform legislation, House Bill 1603, said the email also falsely claims joint and several liability is abolished by the bill. The legislation limits joint and several liability to instances where a tortfeasor is more than 50 percent liable.
“The attorney who sent this email expressed deep opposition to change and tried to rally his colleagues to try to stop reform. Now that he was unsuccessful in defending the status quo, he is trying to encourage people to file lawsuits prior to the law taking effect whether they have merit or not,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “This email is nothing but an opportunistic attempt to get lawsuits on the books, regardless of their merit, by lawyers who will go to any lengths to prey on vulnerable Oklahomans.”
Labels: Chris Benge, Dan Sullivan, Glenn Coffee, Merritt and Associates, Tort Reform
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:41 AM
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