UPDATE: Gov. DeWine signed House Bill 606 on September 14, 2020.
The Ohio legislature has passed House Bill 606 which will grant liability protections for individuals and businesses during the COVID 19 crisis.
Eleven states have now passed similar laws to ensure businesses have confidence they can reopen without being swarmed by trial lawyers.
In a letter sent on August 5th, 22 Attorney Generals from different states touted state liability protection, and urged congress to enact federal legislation for COVID related liability protection. However, states can’t afford to wait for the federal government to act, and don’t have to.
“State level liability limits provides two benefits. First, they protect businesses in the states where the limits are enacted. Second, they also benefit businesses in states that have yet to take action, as enactment of state level liability limits makes it more likely that lawmakers in Washington will come together to pass a deal that includes federal liability protection,” writes Americans for Tax Reform’s Patrick Gleason in Forbes.
With House Bill 606’s passage, Ohioans can feel safe knowing they have protection from frivolous COVID-related lawsuits, but that any businesses that are reckless or negligent will still face accountability.
Businesses have been stifled by the fear of lawsuits from customers who test positive since the beginning of the pandemic. An individual could potentially contract COVID 19 from a number of hard to trace sources, and testing is still not 100% accurate.
Businesses can more soundly predict and prepare for the future knowing they can’t get dragged into a costly lawsuit at a moment’s notice. This bill makes sure that it’s still worth it to be in business in Ohio. Liability protection also helps small business especially.
This latest bill is a major victory for all of Ohio’s citizens. Actions such as these can ensure businesses have the stable legal structure necessary to reduce risk and uncertainty for entrepreneurs and business owners alike. Now more than ever, having local laws that support businesses is eminently necessary for us to recover our economy and make it through the lockdown crisis.