Oklahoma Republican Lawmakers Roll Out Lawsuit Reform Plan

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With the goal of bringing common sense back to Oklahoma’s legal system, reduce health care costs for citizens and create a stronger economic climate, Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Todd Hiett introduced a measure to fight lawsuit abuse, the House Media Services Division reported.

Hiett and Rep. Fred Mor-gan, R-Oklaho-ma City unveiled the plan under House Bill 2047. Morgan will carry the bill through the House. The two lawmakers named it “The Justice & Common Sense Act of 2005.”

Announcing support for the proposal, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, stated that Senate Republicans are coordinating with House Republican leaders on the reform package. Reforms Republican lawmakers are promoting include a hard cap of $300,000 on non-economic damages; elimination of the “deep pockets” rule, also known as joint and several liability; and a prohibition on forum shopping.

The act filed by Hiett and Morgan would tackle four major areas of reform:

Quick and Fair Compensation for Injured People: The bill would make it easier for injured people (plaintiffs) and defendants with strong cases to win on summary judgment, rather than going through the trial process.

Cleaning Up Class Action: An important and legitimate part of Oklahoma’s legal system, class action suits in recent years have in some cases gotten out of hand. In one recent case against Jiffy Lube, attorneys collected millions in fees while the clients got coupons for car service. Cleaning up class action will address two areas: If clients get coupons, the lawyers get coupons; and limiting “contingency” fees. Lawyers will be paid for the hours they actually work, just like everyone else in Oklahoma.

Reduce Health Care Costs for Hardworking Oklahomans: Pla-cing limits on non-economic damages. Right now, the system is too often abused, hurting both injured people and defendants. Greater freedom for doctors to give free care to disadvantaged and indigent Oklahomans. Doctors will be able to provide charity care without worrying about insurance.

Common Sense Protection for Business Owners: Lawyers sue businesses that make products that have already been approved by the federal government as safe. This would end under the new system. Choice-based products, which everyone knows can be harmful–such as fast food–should not be subject to lawsuits.

In a separate announcement, Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, a Democrat, said while he supports efforts to improve Oklahoma’s civil justice system, reforms should focus “on the repeat offenders in both the medical and legal communities.

“Justice, however, is not served by pandering to the interests of big business at the expense of the rights of ordinary Oklahomans or by protecting the very small percentage of physicians who repeatedly harm their patients,” Hobson added.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Oklahoma Politics

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