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| Date: | May 14, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Peter D. Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| MINNESOTA SENATE APPROVES LAWSUIT REFORM MEASURES Reforms will reduce business expenses and increase productivity |
(St. Paul) -- On Saturday, the Minnesota Senate voted to pass a package of bills that will reform Minnesota’s legal system, save taxpayers money, and encourage economic development. All three Senate bills passed today received bipartisan support and have companion files in the Minnesota House of Representatives that are currently moving through their committee process.
“Minnesotans deserve swift justice, and a court system that encourages early and fair resolution of legal disputes,” said Senator Ortman. “These bills are designed to reform our civil justice system to provide less expensive litigation, and to eliminate incentives for delay that add significant costs for all litigants, both plaintiffs and defendants. These simple reforms will streamline our processes, save costs in our courts, and save Minnesotans the opportunity costs of participating in lengthy and expensive lawsuits.”
The bills that the Minnesota Senate approved today offer lawsuit reform in a variety of ways. Senate File 149 enacts reforms for class action lawsuits, including authorizing an appeal of right for the certification of a class action, before expensive discovery costs are incurred. Another, Senate File 373 would shorten Minnesota’s general statute of limitations from six years, which is currently the longest in the country, to four years. Lastly, Senate File 506 increases the conciliation court jurisdictional limit from $7500 to $20,000.
“These bills will restore a balanced approach for our courts, while still providing aggrieved parties ample opportunity to have their day in court,” said Senator Ortman. “But we need to quickly help rein in the costs of delay.”
The bills are supported by a wide cross section of the business community and by individual consumers and businesses that are represented by Minnesotans for Lawsuit Reform.
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