South Carolina legislators struggle to reach agreement on lawsuit reform
COLUMBIA, S.C. - For more than a year, bars and restaurants have been begging South Carolina lawmakers to do something to address skyrocketing insurance costs that are forcing many to close.
But some legislators say that’s tied to a much larger issue dealing with lawsuits – and the House and Senate have remained at odds over how to fix it.
Lawmakers say they’ve been working behind the scenes for weeks to come to a compromise on this issue.
They haven’t gotten there yet, but say the door remains open to get it done before time runs out in a week.
“All of our goal is not to leave here at the end of next week without trying to do as much as we possibly can, but also recognizing the time constraints that are on us,” said Rep. Weston Newton, R-Buaefort, the Judiciary Committee chairman.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said: “We’re still talking, but we’re not quite there yet.”
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Earlier this year, the Senate ed an omnibus tort reform bill.
It deals with lawsuits and several other related topics like medical malpractice, auto insurance and liquor liability insurance for bars and restaurants.
At the same time, the House ed a much narrower bill that only addresses the liquor liability issue.
“Clearly the message from the Senate’s been that just liquor liability’s not enough,” Newton said.
While House leaders say there’s not enough time to vet the Senate’s full omnibus bill – at least not right now.
Newton says they’re now trying to come to a compromise on what he describes as “liquor liability-plus.”
Essentially – it would tackle the liquor liability issues that have led to skyrocketing insurance costs for bars and restaurants.
And it would address questions of who’s at fault in lawsuits and how much victims are owed – a key part of the Senate’s bill.
“I want to something. But I’m not going to it if we don’t do something meaningful on t and several and the verdict form, along with something meaningful on the alcohol,” Massey said.
Outside attorneys have come up with compromise options that they presented to a House committee Thursday.
The question now is whether they’ll be able to find consensus before time runs out.
“I recognize there’s three days,” Massey said. “I also recognize that miracles happen up here in three days.”
By law, the legislative session ends next Thursday.
And if lawmakers don’t come to an agreement by then, they won’t be able to get this bill finalized until next January – at the earliest.
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