Opponents of the proposal, however, argue it strips Georgians of their right to seek compensation for injuries suffered from the negligence of large corporations.
By Megan Butler
ATLANTA (CN) — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced long-promised proposals for tort reform legislation during a press conference at the state capitol on Thursday.…
Atlanta civil rights attorney Gerald Griggs condemned the proposal as prioritizing corporate interests over the rights of Georgia citizens.
"This legislation would make it harder for individuals—especially working-class Georgians—to seek justice when harmed by negligence or misconduct. Georgia’s civil justice system exists to ensure that victims of wrongdoing can hold powerful entities accountable," Griggs said on X.
"Any effort to weaken these protections in the name of 'reform' is a direct assault on the rights of everyday Georgians, particularly those from historically marginalized communities who already face systemic barriers to legal recourse," he added.
Atlanta attorney John Houghton said "insurers do not need a legislative bailout," and that premiums continue to rise from other factors in states that have put tort reform measures in place like Florida and Texas.
Decades of studies examining insurance data from Americans for Insurance Reform and the Consumer Federation of America show that tort law limits do not lower insurance premiums and that states with little or no tort law restrictions experience the same insurance rates as those states that enact severe restrictions on victims’ rights, according to the Center For Justice Democracy at the New York Law School.
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