Pennsylvania Needs a Smart Re-Start with Liability Protections

ATRA urges the Pennsylvania legislature to enact liability protections for critical industries like healthcare providers, PPE manufacturers and small businesses.

ATRA joins the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform in calling on the Pennsylvania state legislature to take swift action to protect healthcare providers, PPE manufacturers and small businesses from liability related to COVID-19.

With Pennsylvania’s legislative session quickly coming to a close for the summer, time is of the essence. Legislators must act quickly to enable a “Smart Re-start” in the Keystone State by empowering Pennsylvanians to focus on jumpstarting the economy without the constant worry and threat of litigation.

Providing protection to healthcare workers and facilities will fill in the gaps that Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) executive order did not cover and will allow the healthcare industry to continue providing access to world-renowned care without wasting resources on frivolous lawsuits. Providing protection to manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) will allow manufacturers to continue providing necessary products for the public as well as meet the demands for equipment for our healthcare industry. Businesses of every size, but especially small businesses, are following ever-changing guidelines as closely as they can, but providing protection from premises liability will allow businesses to safely re-open without fear of their doors re-shuttering due to the overbearing costs of litigation.

We urge the Pennsylvania legislature to enact the above protections for a “Smart Re-Start” and to protect the state’s economic recovery from being even further hindered by unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits.