Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition
Recent News About Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition
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Missouri Supreme Court suspends in-person proceedings to curb COVID-19 pandemic
JEFFERSON CITY – Although courts are bound by the state Constitution to remain open, the Missouri Supreme Court has suspended in-person proceedings through Friday, May 1 in an attempt to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Senate bill aims to curb slack-fill litigation over the amount of product in containers
JEFFERSON CITY – A proposed bill limiting lawsuits over allegations that consumers are tricked by product packaging that is not filled to the brim was discussed in the Senate government reform committee earlier in March. -
Missouri justice reform organization supports bill to give insurers a voice in arbitrations
ST. LOUIS – The executive director of the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition said the organization supports a newly introduced bill, Senate Bill 726, that aims to give insurance companies a voice in arbitration settlements, which up until now, backers said, has been muted. -
Activist expresses doubt public nuisance law is the proper avenue in gun maker lawsuit
KANSAS CITY – An activist with the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition said a lawsuit launched against gun makers for allegedly contributing to area crime under public nuisance laws is an improper stretch of the law. -
Reform advocate: People need to use site tracking lawyer, union donations
JEFFERSON CITY – A little-used online tool that tracks trial lawyer and union donations to Missouri candidates for public office should be getting more attention than it does, a tort reform advocate said during a recent interview. -
Taxpayers should not have to pay punitive damages, tort reform advocate says after $20 million award in discrimination case
JEFFERSON CITY – Weeks after a jury awarded almost $20 million to a St. Louis police sergeant after he allegedly had been told to "tone down" his "gayness," a tort reform advocate decried the use of taxpayer dollars to pay punitive damages. -
Third-party litigation funding 'should be regulated or banned outright,' tort reform advocate says
JEFFERSON CITY – The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules' decision late last month that it will study third-party litigation funding in civil lawsuits and the potential need for a disclosure requirement may not be getting to the root of problem, a Missouri-based tort reform advocate said. -
Digital workplace apps may be convenient, but they can be a hotbed for employee lawsuits
JEFFERSON CITY – Digital workplace apps are becoming commonplace for office interactions, offering a streamlined approach to employee growth and relationship through a single portal that’s easy to manage is tempting. But at what cost? -
Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition head says time will tell effect of venue reform law
A series of tort reform bills passed by the state legislature earlier this year went into effect at the end of August, but it may still be a while before Missouri sees the impact of these new laws. -
Missouri Justice Reform Coalition director says more work needs be done in regard to state's regulatory, legal climate
JEFFERSON CITY – The annual CNBC ranking of the best and worst states for business came out last month and Missouri found itself in the middle of the pack. -
NLRB gives employers permission to enforce arbitration agreements and discipline workers who refuse to sign them
JEFFERSON CITY – A recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board that employers can discipline employees who refuse to sign class waivers in response to class claims will be "welcome news" to employers in the state, a civil justice reform advocate says. -
Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition will focus on punitive damages cap, statute of repose for 2020
JEFFERSON CITY – Legal reform advocates are lining up in support of capping punitive damages in the next legislative session. -
Attorney on Roundup cases: 'Focusing on the science can be difficult for a jury'
JEFFERSON CITY – There have been three trials in California against Bayer that have sided with plaintiffs over their allegations that the glyphosate in the herbicide Roundup caused cancer despite regulatory agencies concluding that glyphosate is not harmful to humans. -
Focus will be on St. Louis as Roundup case gets underway, Missouri Civil Justice Reform director says
With an upcoming trial Aug 19 in a lawsuit alleging Bayer’s weed killer product Roundup caused cancer in its users, Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition Executive Director Richard AuBuchon recently commented on the trial to be held in St. Louis County Circuit Court, near Bayer’s crop science business headquarters. -
Litigation funding industry should be regulated, says civil justice reform group
JEFFERSON CITY – The executive director of a nonprofit organization devoted to the passage of tort reform legislation in Missouri is advocating for the regulation of the litigation finance industry. -
Missouri AG expands opioid suit to include public nuisance, unjust enrichment claims
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt in June declared his intention to expand the state’s lawsuit against opioid manufacturers Purdue Pharma, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and its parent company Johnson and Johnson, adding public nuisance and unjust enrichment claims against the companies. -
Civil justice reform advocates pleased with venue reform; Look to next session for asbestos, punitive damages reform
JEFFERSON CITY - While advocates of civil justice reform are pleased with Gov. Mike Parson's signature on a bill designed to stem a flood of out-of-state plaintiffs in Missouri courtrooms, they're aiming for more reforms in the next legislative session - limiting punitive damages and asbestos transparency, for instance. -
Gov. Parson signs tort reform legislation expected to reduce lawsuits filed by out-of-state plaintiffs
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation this week that supporters say will stop out-of-state residents and attorneys from taking advantage of Missouri's court system. -
Missouri legislature considering two civil justice reform proposals
JEFFERSON CITY – Several proposals that aim at reforming civil justice in the state of Missouri are now being considered in the General Assembly. -
State Senate OKs bill that restricts out-of-state plaintiffs from being added to Missourians' lawsuits
Senate Bill 7 now goes to House