South Carolina Statehouse Blog

Balanced Reform protects citizens & allows businesses to grow

(Columbia, SC) – Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a comprehensive Business Tort Reform Bill (H. 3489) aimed at protecting both our state’s businesses and our citizens. The measure will lower the cost of doing business and make our state more competitive by reducing frivolous lawsuits and limiting punitive damages to a realistic level.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the passage of this key piece of legislation:

“Today, by passing our comprehensive Business Tort Reform Bill, the House took another major leap forward in making South Carolina a great place to do business. Maintaining our low-tax and pro-business climate is key to our state’s economic recovery.

“This reform bill will help secure our state’s economic future by reducing the cost of running a business, creating a more fair court system and making South Carolina more competitive. Our neighboring states have already enacted such Tort Reform provisions, putting our state at a disadvantage. Unlike a business in a neighboring state, a business in our state is too often one lawsuit away from being put out of business.

“This lawsuit abuse reform bill will provide the same fair balance and results our successful Medical Tort Reform efforts produced a few years ago. Businesses will be able to operate and grow without the constant threat of a costly frivolous lawsuit or overly inflated settlement putting them out of business. With the fair balance this system creates, businesses will still be held accountable and our citizens will be protected from wrongdoing.

“I would like to thank all those who participated in this debate for working together to produce this fair-minded and much-needed reform bill.”