Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs tort reform bills into law. What does that mean? We explain
The bills comprise a comprehensive tort reform package, lauded by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, as a generational step protecting families, businesses, and the state's economy.
"Today is a victory for the people of our state who for too long were suffering the impacts of an out-of-balance legal environment," said Governor Brian Kemp in a press release. "While there was great passion on all sides of this issue, I am grateful for the diligent work of Commissioner John King and his office in studying this issue, the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and Speaker Jon Burns, the unrelenting work of Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy and House Majority Whip James Burchett, as well as Chairmen Brian Strickland and Rob Leverett for leading a thorough review, and the thoughtful deliberation of our legislative partners in the General Assembly.
"As a result of this collective effort and outpouring of support from Georgians of all backgrounds, Georgia continues to move in the right direction as we work to stabilize costs and compete for economic opportunities that will create good paying jobs for hardworking Georgians across our state."
What is tort reform?
Tort reform is a set of changes to the civil justice system that limit the ability of people to file lawsuits and the amount of compensation they can receive, according to Wikipedia.
Supporters of tort reform argue that this will lead to fairer outcomes, while critics worry it could unfairly penalize victims.
Here is a breakdown of the specific policy areas addressed by the legislation, according to the press release:
Reevaluates the standard for negligent security liability ('premises liability')
Truthful calculation of medical damages in personal injury cases ('phantom damages')
Eliminates the ability to arbitrarily anchor pain and suffering damages to a jury ('anchoring')
Bifurcated trials
Allow a jury to know whether the plaintiff wore their seatbelt ('admissible seatbelt evidence')
Eliminate double recovery of attorney's fees
Eliminate plaintiff dismissal during trial
Motion to dismiss timing changes
Reforming and bringing transparency to third party litigation funding
How does tort reform affect people?
Tort reform basically gives new requirements for filing a lawsuit. It also limits the amount of recovery someone can get from a lawsuit, according to medmalfirm.com.
For more details about tort reform, visit gov.georgia.gov.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: What is tort reform? Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs it into law
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stefanik calls on Clinton County GOP chair to resign
PLATTSBURGH — North Country Congresswoman and House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has publicly called on Clinton County Republican Chair Jerika Manning to resign. Manning, one of three county Republican chairs who will decide the party's candidate in the upcoming 115th assembly district special election, has been accused by Stefanik of 'threatening to tank the 115th Assembly District for Republicans.' 'Clinton County voters are deeply concerned about the incompetence and selfishness of the inexperienced Clinton County GOP Chair Jerika Manning,' Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said in a statement to the media Tuesday. 'It is clear she has lost the confidence of elected Republican officials, committee members, and most importantly, voters. I am not going to let her torpedo Republican candidates in the North Country.' The 115th district assembly seat is being vacated by long-time Assemblyman Billy Jones, the lone North Country Democratic state lawmaker who recently announced his decision to resign from office at the end of August. ENDORSEMENT Stefanik, along with State Sen. Dan Stec, R,C-Schuylerville, came out in support of Republican Village of Malone Mayor and Franklin County Legislator Andrea Dumas for the assembly seat last week. Dumas has not come forward with an official announcement she is running but wrote on her Facebook she is honored to receive their endorsements. 'Their support — along with the encouragement from friends and neighbors across Franklin, Clinton, and Essex Counties — means so much to me,' Dumas wrote. 'In the coming days, I will be working with local committee chairs and members to carefully explore this opportunity. As I do, I remain fully committed to my current responsibilities as Mayor of the Village of Malone and as a Franklin County Legislator. 'For the past 10 years, we have worked hard together for the Village of Malone and Franklin County, and I want to ensure that progress continues with the same dedication and support I've always brought to the table. I will continue working to see every initiative we've started through to success,' Dumas continued. 'If I am given the opportunity to serve in the State Assembly, I will bring that same commitment to championing these projects and delivering results for our communities. Thank you for your continued support as I thoughtfully navigate this process.' NOMINATION PROCESS As previously reported by the Press-Republican, there is no petition process for this election, according to David Souliere, Clinton County Republican commissioner. Instead, it's a County Committee Chair nomination between the three chairs — Franklin, Clinton and Essex. Each chair has a weighted vote based on how many Republicans voted in the last gubernatorial election, which was in 2022. Clinton County has over 50% of the weight. This nomination meeting cannot officially occur until Jones' vacancy, which is Aug. 31. The process is the same on the Democratic side. 'At this point in the process candidates would be seeking the nomination of their respective parties,' Souliere said Thursday evening via text message when contacted by the Press-Republican. 'Assuming resignation is effective end of August; the meetings would be held in early September as they have to be within 10 days after the vacancy and then filed with the NYS Board of Elections. 'Once the Governor officially proclaims the election date, we will be able to provide more info.' The special election is expected, but not confirmed, to coincide with the Nov. 4 General Election. CALL FOR RESIGNATION Despite calls for Dumas to be the candidate, it appears there could be some hesitation from within the party to do so and may be the reason for Stefanik calling out Manning to resign. 'The New York GOP, the Conservative Party of New York State, Senator Dan Stec, Will Barclay, local Republican officials, and voters are behind Andrea Dumas for Assembly. This incompetent Clinton County GOP Chair must go,' Stefanik said. 'We need a steady hand and a proven Republican leader like Dave Souliere to step in and represent the Clinton County Republicans.' Souliere is the current chair of the city of Plattsburgh Republican Committee and Republican Commissioner at the Clinton County Board of Elections. He did not respond to a request for comment on this story by press time. 'Elise Stefanik is RIGHT,' Stec wrote on his Facebook page. 'The current chair's persistent rejection of outstanding candidate Andrea Dumas is the last straw. The Clinton County Republican Committee needs new leadership!' 'We need to work as one team to flip this district from Democrat to Republican and then defeat Kathy Hochul next year. It's too important for the people of Clinton, Franklin, and Essex counties,' Stefanik continued. 'Over the past decade, we have worked tirelessly to swing Clinton County Republican, and we will not let a selfishly divisive Chair destroy those efforts and drag down Republican candidates, which hurts the voters foremost. Jerika Manning needs to immediately resign as Chair and focus on her County Clerk's race, where she is currently hemorrhaging Republican support.' COUNTY CLERK RACE In addition to being county chair, Manning is seeking to be elected as Clinton County clerk in November. If Manning is elected, Republicans would continue to maintain control of the clerk position that John Zurlo held from 1995 until his passing at 86 years old at the end of last year. However, Manning is being challenged by Democrat Brandi Lloyd for county clerk. Lloyd ran a strong campaign for clerk against Zurlo in 2023 but eventually lost by less than 1,000 votes. Stefanik continued her attack on Manning and said she would not win the election this November. 'All Republican candidates, including our Assembly candidate, will win in Clinton County except for the Clerk's race, unfortunately. We need a strong leader and a unifier with exceptional character like John Zurlo. Manning doesn't even come close to meeting this standard — and voters know it,' she wrote. 'Thank you to Clinton County Republican elected officials, committee members, and most importantly, voters and constituents who have contacted me on this important matter.' MANNING RESPONSE Manning responded via text message late Tuesday afternoon to Stefanik's news release, saying she will not be intimidated into 'abdicating my responsibilities.' 'The false and politically motivated statements circulating about my leadership and the 115th Assembly District special election are nothing more than an attempt at election interference,' Manning wrote to the Press-Republican. 'Our New York State Constitution and election law are clear: in a special election, it is the role and responsibility of the duly elected party chairs to select the nominees for their party. This process exists to ensure fairness, consistency, and the integrity of the ballot — not to allow personal agendas or political vendettas to dictate the outcome. 'As Clinton County Republican Chair, my duty is to uphold the law, protect the voice of our local Republican members, and ensure that every voter has a fair process they can trust. I will not be intimidated into abdicating my responsibilities because certain individuals would rather bypass the rules for their own political gain. 'Republicans win when we follow the law, respect the process, and unite around candidates chose in accordance with our Constitution — not when we allow outside interference to fracture our party. The voters of Clinton County, Franklin County, and Essex County deserve nothing less than a fair, lawful, and principled process.'
Politico
41 minutes ago
- Politico
Markey's missing endorsements
PASS — Sen. Ed Markey is rolling out another round of endorsements today, this time from state and local electeds from the North Shore. The slate of nearly two dozen mayors, legislators and county politicians includes state Sens. Joan Lovely and Jason Lewis, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo and 14 state representatives. One notable north-of-Boston name from the you won't see on the list: Rep. Seth Moulton. Markey's campaign has announced endorsements from four members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts congressional delegation, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Reps. Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, and Lori Trahan, often bundling the announcements with a slew of endorsements from officials in the same congressional district. But so far, those viewed as the most likely or most competitive potential challengers to the 79-year-old incumbent — Moulton and Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Ayanna Pressley — haven't made the lists. Polls testing potential matchups between Markey and other members of the delegation, including Auchincloss, Moulton and Pressley, circulated this spring, and another popped up recently, according to screenshots of the surveys shared with Playbook, but no polling showing what a Democratic primary race would look like has been made public. It's still early. And some electeds may be wary of throwing their support behind Markey before they know what the field will actually look like. Multiple members endorsed Markey in 2020 before then-Rep. Joe Kennedy III officially got in the race, making things awkward for some of those who were close with Kennedy, but already on board with Markey. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Polling a potential Senate race? Let me know: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Massachusetts Lodging Association's 'Outlook 2026' at 9 a.m., makes an announcement about commuter ferry funding at 10:30 a.m. in Boston and chairs a Governor's Council meeting at noon at the State House. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Lori Trahan attend a groundbreaking for the Rourke Bridge replacement project at 11 a.m. in Lowell. Markey hosts a press conference after joining a roundtable with veterans and service providers at the UMass Chan Medical School at 2 p.m. in Worcester. Trahan highlights federal funding that was spent to acquire three new emergency vehicles at 1 p.m. in Gardner. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Boston Fire Department recruit graduation ceremony at 9 a.m. in the Seaport. DATELINE BEACON HILL — Lawmakers seek to ban impersonating ICE agents by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'A bipartisan group of lawmakers are hoping to close a 'loophole' in state law that allows people who impersonate ICE agents and other federal authorities to shake down immigrants or sexually assault women to go without punishment. The proposal, filed by state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, Rep. Anne Margaret Ferranate, D-Gloucester, and others would make it a crime to impersonate a federal law enforcement official. Under current law, criminal charges can only be filed against someone accused of impersonating a state or local law-enforcement official.' — Gov. Maura Healey shuttles $46M towards electric vehicle charging in Massachusetts by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Gov. Maura Healey's administration announced Tuesday that it plans to shuttle $46 million over the next two fiscal years to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state. Officials in Massachusetts have spent years trying to bulk up the state's fleet of electric vehicle charging stations in an attempt to bridge gaps in service along highways and in neighborhoods. But a report released alongside the funding said charging bandwidth 'needs to increase to meet demand from EV drivers and the Commonwealth's climate requirements.'' — Critics hammer Gov. Healey as she ends shelter emergency by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: 'The first two years of Gov. Maura Healey's term in office were dominated by the state's migrant crisis, and the headlines came at a blistering pace: Images of families sleeping on the floor of Boston's Logan airport; news that whole hotels were booked to accommodate families; criticism of the hundreds of millions of dollars the state would spend on services. By August 2023, the situation felt untenable to most leaders on Beacon Hill. That's when Healey made a big announcement: The Massachusetts shelter system was in a state of emergency. She did so from a podium at the State House, speaking to a gaggle of reporters as cameras rolled. So it surprised some political observers this month when Healey announced, without fanfare, the 'end' of the shelter emergency. There was no press conference, no podium, no cameras. Just an email sent to reporters on a Friday afternoon.' — Accused State House vandal tied to pro-Palestinian group, prosecutors say by Matthew Medsgar, Boston Herald. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts is releasing its slate of mayoral and city council endorsements today, ahead of the September preliminary elections. In Boston, the group is backing Mayor Michelle Wu for reelection; Councilors Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Henry Santana and challenger Alexandra Valdez in the At-Large race; Said Abdikarim for the open District 7 seat; and district Councilors Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Brian Worrell, Enrique Pepen, Sharon Durkan and Liz Breadon for reelection. PPAF is also endorsing Worcester City Councilor Khrystian King in his bid for mayor in Worcester, and City Councilor Moises Rodrigues, who is running for mayor Brockton. FROM THE HUB CHANGING TOURISM — Condé Nast Traveler's Sarah Khan is out with a piece on Boston's evolving tourism scene, featuring Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, state Rep. Chris Worrell, the Chinatown Community Land Trust Lydia Lowe, retaurateur Nia Grace, Comfort Kitchen's Nyacko Pearl Perry and more. — 13 arrested in Mass and Cass human trafficking bust, Boston Police say by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'Thirteen people were arrested in connection with a human trafficking bust carried out by Boston, state and federal authorities at the troubled Mass and Cass area. The joint operation — carried out by special units from the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and FBI — focused on the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, BPD said on Tuesday.' — Opponents of White Stadium project unveil new alternative design, with updated cost of $64.6 million by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: 'Opponents of the city of Boston's redevelopment of White Stadium unveiled an updated alternative proposal for the facility on Tuesday, in their latest push for the city to opt for a different, less-expensive design for the Franklin Park site. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy's latest plan would cost the city about $64.6 million, the group said, and could serve as a scaled-back upgrade for the dilapidated stadium that the city could fund on its own, without partnering with a new professional women's soccer team.' — What Boston's increase in homicides tells us by Steph Solis, Axios. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — MBTA taking another run at late-night trains, buses by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: 'Last call on the MBTA is about to get a little later. Nine years after pulling the plug on a prior weekend late-night service program, the MBTA this month will begin running all subways and several popular bus routes about an hour longer into the night. It's part of a new fall schedule that also boosts daytime trip frequency across most of the system. Agency leaders -- many of whom were not involved in the ill-fated pilot nearly a decade ago -- said Tuesday they want to provide a 'public service' for the commuters who need to take trips after about 1 a.m., including people enjoying a night out and those working overnight shifts, even if the demand is comparably smaller.' FROM THE 413 — $10 bucks and a fish dinner: State still eyeing Springfield's '23 election allegations by Stephanie Barry, The Springfield Republican: 'Investigators with the state Attorney General's Office continue to probe election fraud allegations from the 2023 mayoral race that pitted former City Councilor Justin Hurst against incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Sarno won handily, becoming the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Nearly two years later, a Massachusetts State Police trooper arrived at City Hall last week to obtain video footage outside the city Elections Office, showing Hurst and his campaign volunteers shuttling voters, primarily from a city homeless shelter, to the polls, according to City Solicitor Stephen J. Buoniconti.' — Residents again pack City Council chambers to speak out about Pittsfield's proposed camping ordinance by Maryjane Williams, The Berkshire Eagle: 'Residents again packed the City Council chambers Tuesday night to speak out about the city's proposed camping ordinance, with many urging councilors to slow down, seek more community input and explore alternatives.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Officers investigated for misconduct collect thousands in pension benefits by Grace Ferguson and Anastasia E. Lennon, The New Bedford Light: 'One longtime police officer was accused of depositing department funds into his wife's personal bank account. Another veteran officer withheld an inhaler from an asthmatic man in custody and lied about it. Then there's the infamous narcotics detective Jared Lucas, who made headlines for secretly sleeping with his informant. All three served the New Bedford Police Department, and all three together have earned more than $400,000 from the New Bedford pension system in just the last few years. They retired while their supervisors considered firing them for misconduct.' — New Bedford schools declared 'safe zone' from ICE by School Committee by Frank Mulligan, The Standard-Times. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Dr. Christopher Westgate has been appointed as the new associate provost at Endicott College. He had worked at Johnson & Wales University. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Sen. Patrick O'Connor, state Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, Josh Romney, Nicholas Hull, Eric M. Nelson and Denise Perrault.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Why Trump's Fed nominee may get the cold shoulder at the central bank
In MAGA world, Stephen Miran, the White House economist President Donald Trump nominated last week to the Federal Reserve's top ranks, is a force to be reckoned with. Miran has been a key voice in support of Trump's sweeping economic agenda, with the president praising him as 'distinguished' and 'unmatched.' But what it takes to get nominated to the Fed is different from what it takes to succeed at the central bank. Miran was nominated in place of Adriana Kugler, who resigned from the Fed with six months left in her term. That means Miran would serve on the Fed's Board of Governors only until January 31, should he be confirmed by the Senate. His unconventional views of the economy will be on full display during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee — the same views that would put him out of step with the rest of the board. Unlike most mainstream economists, including those at the Fed, Miran believes that Trump's widespread tariffs on US trading partners won't stoke inflation — a view that suggests the Fed should have already cut interest rates this year, as Trump has loudly demanded for months. He's doubled down on that position as recently as Tuesday. 'There's just still continues to be no evidence whatsoever of any tariff-induced inflation,' Miran told CNBC. 'I think lots of folks who are expecting that, who are predicting doom and gloom, it just hasn't panned out, and it continues to not pan out for them.' Miran also co-authored a paper last year that argued against the Fed's independence, though he's struck a different tone in recent comments. It's unclear if he'll be as unequivocal about honoring the Fed's independence as Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed members typically are. 'The Fed is a consensus-driven body, so someone has to be persuasive in making sure everyone is on the same page,' said Ed Mills, Washington policy analyst at investment firm Raymond James. 'But Miran is aligned with the president's views, not Jerome Powell's.' Miran aligns closely with Trump's unorthodox vision for the US economy, centered on an overhaul in trade policy. He's one of its architects, after all. In a November 2024 paper, Miran argued that a steep decline in the US dollar's value and a tariff-centric approach could reshape the global economy in favor of the United States. Since the beginning of the year, the Trump administration has haphazardly rewritten US trade policy, with sweeping levies as high as 50% that went into effect just last week. Fed officials have warned those import levies could push up inflation, but Miran continues to say the doubters are all wrong. Consumer prices in July rose 2.7% from a year earlier, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data, released on Tuesday — a continuation of relatively tame inflation readings so far this year. Economists polled by data firm FactSet expected to see an annual gain of 2.8% in July. With signs that the labor market is sputtering, the Fed could be on track to cut interest rates as soon as next month anyway. But if central bankers have to stop cutting because inflation rises, Miran's long-held view that any impact of tariffs on inflation is fleeting would be out of line with the board again. And he could find himself getting the cold shoulder. 'The latest data have revealed some more weakness in the economy, but there are still quite a few Fed governors who are worried about inflation,' said Daniel Altman, an economist and writer of the High Yield Economics newsletter. And in his Manhattan Institute paper last year, Miran called the Fed's independence an outdated idea and argued Fed officials should be subject to at-will dismissal from the president — more in line with Trump's views that presidents should get a say on interest rates than with Powell's view of a politics-free Fed. But he softened that stance on Tuesday. 'I've always been clear that independence of the Fed is of paramount importance,' he said in his CNBC interview. No current Fed official holds tariffs with the same high regard as Miran. They have all said Trump's tariffs could push up inflation to some extent. Even the two Trump appointees who dissented with the Fed's decision last month to hold rates steady — Fed Governor Christopher Waller and Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman — have argued that tariffs could have at least a limited effect on prices. 'Tariffs are one-off increases in the price level and do not cause inflation beyond a temporary increase,' Waller said in a statement explaining why he dissented at the July policy meeting. Miran, however, goes much further. In an interview with CNBC last month, Miran said it is 'rare' for tariffs to boost inflation, comparing such instances to 'pandemics or meteors or whatever.' If Miran becomes a Fed governor, he'll have the chance to lay out his economic views, including on tariffs, and recommend to his colleagues what the Fed should decide on interest rates. The Fed's rate-setting committee consists of 12 voting members, each of whom have only one vote. That means being able to build a consensus — usually the responsibility of the chair — is crucial if Miran wants to bend the Fed to Trump's will. Still, Miran in some ways remains a conventional Fed candidate. 'We don't know exactly how Miran is going to vote, but he's still a traditional nomination. He's the head of the Council of Economic Advisers after all,' Mills said.
