WASHINGTON, D.C.—Two state legislators from West Virginia received the 2015 State Legislative Achievement Award at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s (ILR) 16th Annual Legal Reform Summit today for their contributions to reforming their state’s civil justice system. The recipients were Senate President William P. Cole II and Speaker of the House of Delegates Tim Armstead.

“Senate President Cole and Speaker Armstead demonstrated principled leadership and were the architects of legal reform in a state that some considered a lost cause,” said Lisa A. Rickard, president of ILR. “We are optimistic that the historic reforms of 2015 are just the start for West Virginia.”

Earlier this year, West Virginia enacted numerous landmark legal reform laws. Included were laws to properly allocate fault to all parties in a lawsuit, safeguards against runaway jury awards, and transparency laws to discourage “double dip” asbestos claims in the tort system and against asbestos bankruptcy trusts. The bills were passed with bipartisan support and signed by Governor Earl Tomblin.

The Annual Legal Reform Awards honor individuals and organizations whose outstanding work has contributed to reforming America’s civil justice system. More information on ILR’s other award recipients is available here.

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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