| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ADVANCE LAWSUIT REFORM BILLS Reforms will cut business expenses, increase productivity and expand job opportunities | ||||||||||||
St. Paul – As one part of their overall jobs and economic growth package, legislative majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate advanced a series of lawsuit reform bills designed to reform Minnesota’s legal system, save taxpayers money, and encourage economic development. After receiving bipartisan support in passage of the bills, lawmakers urged Governor Dayton to give all four initiatives strong consideration to be signed into law.
“Families, individuals and businesses need an accessible and affordable court system to resolve legal disputes,” said Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen), chief author of three of the four bills passed today. “This is an important step forward in reforming our civil justice system so that courts can offer less expensive litigation, and eliminate the incentive for delay that drives overall costs for those involved.”
The package of bills passed today make reasonable reforms to Minnesota’s current civil justice system. The bill authors affirmed the need to streamline the process while maintaining an important right to engage in legal action if a person is wronged.
“Our reforms are the first step to creating a more competitive business climate that encourages businesses to stay and grow in Minnesota,” said Representative Doug Wardlow (R-Eagan). “The reforms aim to improve fairness in litigation, leading to speedier resolutions, all the while decreasing costs and increasing financial certainty for businesses and their customers. I encourage Governor Dayton to sign these important reforms into law."
The bills are also supported by a wide cross section of business leaders and by individual consumers and businesses that are represented by Minnesotans for Lawsuit Reform.
###
