WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), made the following statement today about West Virginia’s legislature passing SB 411 to combat “double dip” claims against asbestos bankruptcy trusts and in the tort system and SB 421 to protect against run-away jury awards, as well as urging Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to sign them:

“West Virginia stands at the edge of closing a historic session for legal reforms that will benefit all of its citizens. Guarding against ‘double dip’ asbestos claims and run-away jury awards will discourage fraudulent lawsuits and help to brighten the state’s economic future.

“We laud the House and Senate leadership’s exemplary commitment to making legal reform a top priority, demonstrated both by advancement of these bills and last week’s enactment of a law to properly allocate fault to all parties involved in a lawsuit. The benefits of these landmark bills will be felt for decades to come, and we urge the governor to quickly sign them into law.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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