WASHINGTON—A diverse coalition of more than 200 trade associations and other organizations, including the American Bankers Association and CUNA, are calling on lawmakers to enact “temporary and targeted liability relief legislation” to safeguard businesses, nonprofits and others from frivolous lawsuits as employees return to workplaces.
“Absent a targeted safe harbor for those that work to follow applicable guidelines, the fear and uncertainty from boundless liability threatens to impede our country’s social and economic recovery,” the group wrote. “In the wake of prior crises, Congress came together to pass timely and targeted liability protections with strong bipartisan support because lawmakers understood the acute economic threat of lawsuits at moments of maximum economic vulnerability. And while Congress has acted to provide some limited COVID-19-related liability protections for volunteer healthcare providers and some manufacturers of (Personal Protective Equipment) in the CARES Act, much more must be done.”
‘Uniform’ Response Necessary
The group asked Congress to “quickly enact temporary liability protections.”
“The need for liability protections and relief is clear. Several governors and state legislatures have already implemented COVID-19-related liability protections for key sectors in their states, but a uniform national response is necessary. Now is the time for Congress to take strong action to stop a growing wave of lawsuits from getting in the way of what we all want and need: healthy citizens and a strong economy,” the letter states.