Missouri GOP makes renewed push to limit liability lawsuits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With new Republican Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens' support, GOP lawmakers this year are pushing a collection of bills to limit liability lawsuits supporters have praised as pro-business but critics have slammed as hindering access to the courts.

The legislation deals with how courts handle business claims, individual scams or careless or discriminatory acts that hurt people.

So-called tort reform has been pushed for decades, primarily by Republicans, nationally and in Missouri.

A tort is a legal term used to describe an act of wrongdoing. Tort cases go through civil court and can cover medical malpractice, lemon cars and sales of other deceptive or harmful products.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said Thursday the goal of changing tort laws is to ensure "business can do what they do, which is hire and grow without having the undue burden of lawsuits."

"We want to make sure that consumers are protected but also make sure it's fair for both sides," the Joplin lawmaker said.

Backers such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Washington, D.C.-based American Tort Reform Association argue there are too many lawsuits in the state, driving up the cost of doing business and deterring companies from expanding or moving to Missouri.

Republican efforts to restrict liability lawsuits primarily are opposed by Democrats and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, which said bills would cut down citizens' access to the courts and limit the ability of people who are injured or defrauded to fight back.

Republicans this session have proposed dozens of bills under the tort-reform umbrella. Some of the proposals would:

• Add legal steps for people suing over asbestos exposure.
• Make it harder for employees to sue for discrimination in the workplace.
• Restrict injured or defrauded people from joining together in lawsuits against companies and clamp down on class-action lawsuits.
• Change the requirements used to determine whether a witness is an "expert" for non-jury civil cases.
• Allow juries to see only the out-of-pocket amount paid, not the price before insurance, for medical expenses in personal-injury cases.

Missouri already has passed laws supported by American Tort Reform Association in nine of 10 legal areas the group wants reformed, although the Supreme Court struck down some. Only Ohio, Texas and Colorado have done more, according to the association.

Measures proposed this year in Missouri would add restrictions to current laws.