State Issues

Class Action Fairness

Provide recommendations and monitor reforms of the state class action system to ensure timely compensation for plaintiffs when real harm is demonstrated and offer protection against the frivolous lawsuits.
 

Fairness in Asbestos Litigation Reform S. 852 (March 2006)
 

The Chamber conceptually supports Senate Bill 852, Fairness in Asbestos Litigation Reform, authored by Arlen Specter, a Republican Senator from Pennsylvania because it creates a fair and efficient system to resolve claims of victims for bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure, and for other purposes. To do so, Senate Bill 852 will create a privately funded, publicly administered trust fund that will attempt to immediately bring an end to all asbestos civil actions in all state and federal courts, while continuing to provide fair compensation to victims of asbestos exposure.

SB 1386 Civil Actions: Jury Trials (Morrow) (April 2006)
 

The Chamber supports SB 1386 because this bill provides businesses with the option to contract to resolve future disputes by bench trial rather than jury trial. Predispute jury waivers are consistent with policy to promote the streamlining of court costs and litigation. As compared to jury trials, bench trials are less costly and less time-consuming for the courts and all of the parties involved.

Contact Kerri Ginis, the Chamber's Government Affairs Manager for more information at (559) 495-4818 or kginis@fresnochamber.com