South Carolina Lawmakers Send Tort Reform Package to Gov. Haley

Both the South Carolina House and Senate have now passed a major tort reform package with overwhelming, bi-partisan majorities of 99-16 and 39-0, respectively.  Gov. Nikki Haley has supported passage and is expected to sign the legislation into law soon. 

The “South Carolina Fairness in Civil Justice Act of 2011” includes a reasonable limit on punitive damages, a much needed appeal bond cap, revisions to the statute of repose for construction cases, a requirement for the attorney general to approve civil actions by circuit solicitors, and mandated disclosure of insurance policy limits for personal auto policies in accident cases.

The South Carolina Civil Justice Coalition deserves a lot of credit for pushing the bill over the finish line.  And lawmakers and the governor deserve credit, too, of course, for crafting a bill that will certainly receive consideration for citation among the “Points of Light” in the next Judicial Hellholes report.