Republicans eye sweeping shield from coronavirus liability

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Republicans eye sweeping shield from coronavirus liability

By ANDREW TAYLOR
July 17, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new plan from Senate Republicans to award businesses, schools, and universities sweeping exemptions from lawsuits arising from inadequate coronavirus safeguards is putting Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads as Congress reconvenes next week to negotiate another relief package.

The liability proposal, drafted by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and senior Republican John Cornyn of Texas, promises to shield employers when customers and workers are exposed to coronavirus by moving lawsuits to federal court and limiting legal liability to acts of “gross negligence or intentional misconduct,” according to a draft of the plan obtained by The Associated Press.

Supporters say the plan protects businesses and other employers who adhere to public-health guidelines in good faith. Opponents argue it will permit wrongdoing to go unpunished. It’s up to Congress to resolve the debate, with the outcome likely to determine what legal recourse is available to Americans who contract the virus.

-snip-

The Republican proposal, which was distributed only in summary form, offers a broad shield by requiring heightened pleading standards stiffening burden-of-proof standards, and capping damages on awards. Employers would also be shielded from investigations by federal agencies.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/97196fa5f70f07a2e46cdd27b74f496d

[dchill]

1. Carte blanche reprieve for anyone...

...who does something Trumpy.

[Iliyah]

2. WTF . .

Let's vote the party of death out.

[Karadeniz]

3. Whew! I was almost worried that the GOP was not going to consider the financial problems arising

From Covid! Now I can sleep!

[SWBTATTReg]

4. No liability shield should be given to these bloodsuckers being that the entire CV mess ...

occurred during their watch and by the lack of their inaction, caused the CV epidemic to be even worse than it should have been.

They should be all held accountable. For those who argued that stay at home were illegal, that shutting down businesses was illegal, and that wearing masks, etc. were illegal, all should be held accountable on some level, such as crimes against humanity, or something like this. I know that this is extreme, but people have died as a result of these people resisting any and all attempts to rein in the spread of the CV. Not a laughing matter. It's a life or death matter and these people are choosing politics over science.

[Archetypist]

5. talk about an admission of liability

the fact that they even need to bring this up is evidence enough of their gross negligence and incometence

[Backseat Driver]

6. Not surprising..the vaccine slush fund takes care of successful settlements on suits against

vaccine manufacturers who pay but admit no fault...that seems to be a non-issue that's gotten bipartisan approval...and reason enough to make CoVid a very confusing disease replete with inauthentic stats, various compliance information about recommended protocols, quaint contact tracing oopsies when hot spot employees test positive. One is on their own with this bug. Makes me think of that infamous line I heard spoken to a child in a grocery line long ago to some question or other that started with "why?"...

"Some people are lucky; some aren't"

Seems just the ticket for someone that takes no responsibility at all to just pass that on to the corporate personhoods...nothing personal.

[Faux pas]

7. Kickin' with disgust!

[flotsam]

8. I have a better plan-Sweeping Liability

As in if I follow your advice and someone dies because I did, you face treble damages? And if a court finds your advice was politically motivated all damage awards are cubed?