Businesses Plead With Judiciary Committee For Help From Coronavirus Lawsuits

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee hosted a hearing examining liability concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is widespread fear that a wave of lawsuits could result from possible workplace exposure to the virus, according to a report in Legal Newsline.

 “Unfortunately, despite trying to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of our customers and employees during this pandemic, my companies have targets on their backs because our doors have remained open,” Kevin Smartt Chief Executive Officer and President Kwik Chek Food Stores Inc. told the committee. “That’s just not right. We are all in this together and my businesses shouldn’t become targets for liability threats just because they serve their communities. A business taking precautions and making tangible efforts should get protections from unjust lawsuits.”

 ILR’s recent polling shows that a majority of Americans across the political spectrum favor some protections for non-essential businesses when they open back up.