Louisiana Businesses to be Shielded from Most Virus Lawsuits
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana businesses are receiving state protection from most lawsuits involving COVID-19 deaths or injuries.
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law a package of measures that provides the sweeping liability limitations. Three Republican-sponsored bills offering the lawsuit shields won support from lawmakers in the regular session that ended June 1. The Democratic governor announced he’d signed the measures among a long list of bill signings released Monday and Tuesday. Edwards didn’t comment on the bills, which took effect immediately and are retroactive to March 11.
Supporters say the measures will protect businesses who offered needed services to the public despite the risks of the coronavirus pandemic from frivolous lawsuits.
(Story written by MELINDA DESLATTE/AP)