Poll: Protect Employers from COVID-19 Lawsuits

RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        DECEMBER 4, 2020

CONTACT: Curt Schroder

610.389.4293

[email protected]

NEW POLL SHOWS MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PROTECTING EMPLOYERS FROM COVID-19 LAWSUITS

PCCJR urges congress to act before the end of the year!

 (Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform (PCCJR) today said a new national survey released by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform confirms public support for safe harbor legislation to protect businesses, professionals and organizations providing vital serves through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the overwhelming support for such a measure, on Monday, November 30, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a bill to provide Covid-19 liability protection (HB 1737).

The survey, released by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, shows that almost eight in ten Americans believe that employers who follow the latest government health guidelines should be protected from COVID-related lawsuits.

The survey shows that 79 percent of Americans agree that aside from cases of gross negligence, employers who follow such guidelines should be protected from lawsuits. The survey also shows that strong majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents agree that legislation should provide liability protections.

“The Pennsylvania general assembly understood what this survey tells us – there is broad support to provide our businesses and healthcare workers protections,” said PCCJR Executive Director Curt Schroder. “It is our hope that Congress will act to pass timely, temporary, and targeted liability protections before the end of the year.  PCCJR urges Governor Wolf to work with us and the General Assembly in 2021 should Congress not act.”

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The Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform is a 501(c )(6), not-for-profit, nonpartisan advocacy organization comprised of a diverse group of organizations and individuals committed to bringing fairness to Pennsylvania’s courts by raising awareness of civil justice issues and advocating for legal reform. Additional information is available at http://www.paforciviljusticereform.org, https://www.facebook.com/paciviljustice/ or  https://twitter.com/paciviljustice.

Curt Schroder

Executive Director

Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform