COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined 21 other states in calling for liability protections during COVID-19.
The 21-state coalition has sent a letter, calling on Congress to enact specific liability protections to help mitigate COVID-19 related litigation.
This extension of liability protections would be for state and federal levels for businesses, manufacturers of personal protective equipment, first responders, healthcare workers, healthcare facilities and members of law enforcement, among others, according to the letter.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has started opening businesses around the state. In his newest addition, he added close-contact businesses to the list of businesses who can begin operating on Monday, May 18. These businesses include salons, barbershops, and gyms.
“Our economy will only recover if customers and employees have the confidence to return to the marketplace,” said Attorney General Wilson. “As state attorneys general, we ensure our states have a legal and regulatory environment that protects consumers and allows the free enterprise system to thrive. It is in keeping with that mission that we are calling on Congress to ensure businesses have clearly defined expectations for the safe and appropriate continuance of operations while being protected from devastating civil liability litigation concerning baseless COVID-related claims.”
According to the release, over 20 states have enacted similar liability protections for first responders and healthcare workers in light of COVID-19.
“As we reopen our economies, the need for a stable, predictable legal environment has never been greater,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to create a surge in civil litigation targeting well-intentioned businesses for taking pandemic mitigation measures, and my colleagues and I feel this country is in need of a common-sense framework to provide liability protections for much-needed goods and services while still ensuring victims are able to seek legal redress and compensation where appropriate.”
“Civil liability protections should not, however, be extended to businesses engaging in willful misconduct, reckless infliction of harm or intentional infliction of harm,” said the attorneys general in the letter. “We believe criminal penalties, regulatory fines and agency oversight should be able to capture bad actors and civil lawsuits should be available for any citizens hurt by a business or individual acting with disregard for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to Georgia and South Carolina, the following states’ attorneys general signed onto the letter: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
You can read the letter here.
