Businesses Demand Shield From COVID-19 Liability Suits
Fears are mounting among businesses of a tidal wave of lawsuits by workers and consumers blaming employers for exposing them to COVID-19 – but so far, few such cases have been filed, according to Reuters.
Businesses are pressing lawmakers to shield them from liability in such cases. However, some legal experts say the threat of liability is exaggerated, because in most cases it would be difficult for someone to prove where they were infected.
“Those cases haven’t materialized, and I doubt they will,” David Vladeck, who teaches civil procedure at the Georgetown University Law Center, said at a Senate hearing last week.
As of last week, only 45 of 1,018 coronavirus-related lawsuits were personal injury or medical malpractice cases against businesses, Reuters reported. Twenty-eight of those 45 lawsuits were against Princess Cruise Lines. The remainder were against three other cruise lines, two meat-processing companies, Walmart, a senior living facility operator, two care centers, a hospital and a doctors’ group, according to Reuters.
The issue has divided Congress, with Democrats insisting on another stimulus package and Republicans demanding protection for businesses against lawsuits.
With some state and local governments easing lockdown restrictions, a liability shield could give businesses the confidence to reopen. Protections wouldn’t be available for companies guilty of gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct.
The coronavirus has infected more than 1.4 million people and killed at least 85,000 in the US so far.
People Power: Building The Future Of Insurance One Career At A Time
The insurance industry is at a pivotal point. As emerging technologies reshape underwriting, claims processing, and cust... Read more
Private Equity's Great Divide: Is The Future Insurance-Funded Or Fee-Driven?
A fundamental shift is taking place at the top of the private equity industry. While firms like Blackstone remain commit... Read more
Japan's Next Battleground: The Insurance Sector Under Activist Pressure
Farallon’s push at T&D Holdings marks a shift in focus for activist capital targeting Japan’s untapped insurance... Read more
Cover And Conflict: Tensions Rise Between Insurers And Litigation Funders
Burford’s clash with Chubb signals a deeper rift in the legal-financial ecosystem A high-profile dispute between li... Read more
Underwater And Uninsured: How Climate Risk Is Reshaping The US Mortgage Market
As climate change intensifies, its effects are no longer confined to coastlines or news reports on extreme weather. In t... Read more
When The Raters Get Rated: What The Fitch–Kroll Feud Says About Oversight And Accountability
In a rare and unusually public confrontation between two of America’s credit rating agencies, a recent feud between Fi... Read more