Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Governor Signs C19 Liability Protection Bill

Leftenent Governor Delbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

Healthcare facilities which followed applicable public health guidance in good faith in treating patients are now immune from civil liability for COVID-19-related lawsuits, under recently enacted legislation.
 

Senate Bill 3049, authored by former Senator Sally Doty, also extends protection to first responders, schools or other educational entities, non-profit organizations, and businesses.  Businesses which manufactured personal protective equipment in response to the virus are also covered. 

“The last thing our hospitals and others, many of whom have employees who have put themselves at great personal risk, need is to be faced with unfounded legal claims,” Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann said. “Right now, we need our healthcare workers, businesses, and communities focused on health and safety, and recovery."

The legislation includes a two-year statute of limitations for any legitimate claim, and backdates to March 14, 2020—the date the Governor’s original emergency declaration was issued. 

The provisions do not apply where there is clear and convincing evidence of actual malice or intentional behavior.   
To view the legislation or for more information, visit http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2020/pdf/history/SB/SB3049.xml.  For more information on Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann visit https://ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.




26 comments:

Anonymous said...

So this doesn’t apply to normal everyday businesses? Why?

Anonymous said...

Provides protection to cities and counties, as well. So, school districts can no longer hide behind an unfounded fear of frivolous litigation. School districts should put reasonable measures in place that reasonably and in good faith follow the guidance of the Governor's Executive Orders (which presumably are based on recommendations made, in part, by MSDH). Open the damn schools.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear from Governor Hosemann - ooops, thinks he's Governor Hosemann - as he issues this press release about the real Governor signing a bill.

Normal folks would have made their press release when their body (in this case, the Legislature) passed the bill, and when the Governor signed it he would make the press statement.

But Delbert being Delbert just can't stand it - hoping that he can attract a camera in range he has to put out a press release announcing what the Governor did.

Rock on Delbert - you think you are 'tha man'. Enjoy the glory your ego gives you.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the need for this. After all, it's just the flu.

This just shows the hypocrisy of the government and business community. On the one hand, it's safe to go back to work, on the other hand, if you are injured or die, no one will be held responsible.

Teachers and retail workers in particular didn't sign up to die for the economy.

Anonymous said...

@10:12 AM, yes it does. Read the bill, particularly Section 2(f) and Section 3. Immunity applies to any individual, business, organization, or government entity that attempts in good faith to follow public health guidelines.

Unfortunately, the press release is not a very good summary of the bill.

Interested to see what quacks the plaintiffs' bar try to use to state to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that someone caught the virus at a particular location.

Anonymous said...

Classic conservative double-speak. We don't need regulation because we can count on the free market to sort it out. But tort law, the primary post facto means for people to make businesses pay for the harm they cause, is too burdensome on business. This is literally legislating market failure.

Anonymous said...

It’s too bad the republicans don’t treat citizens as well as they treat their corporate handlers.

Anonymous said...

Sorry ambulance chasers you’re out of luck. This needs to be done nationwide but is being held hostage by the democrats.
If you are scared to go out - stay home. If you live or are in contact with people that are vulnerable due to age or poor health- stay home and away from them. It is high time the rest of us to move on. We should not be held hostage by a virus with 99.6% survivability and that is so dangerous you have to be tested to know if you have it.

Anonymous said...

11:00 am Not really...if you deliberately invade my space and confront me for wearing a mask and turn out to be positive, I'd say that's malice.
And, if an employer sees his employee is coughing or sneezing and doesn't send them home or knows an employee who was working the day before testing is positive and does nothing, has intentionally acted.



Anonymous said...

Was forced to undergo another Covid test before I was allowed to an emergent cardioversion. When asked why I couldn't refuse was told I would not be treated unless I was tested whether I want to or not. No signature required for the forced test, just done. This, in my opinion, is coercion and malpractice for withholding a procedure based on testing. A medical test may be performed on a patient without consent if there is a court order mandating such a test(none found on request and not given anything in regards to the facility making this decision). Otherwise, a patient with capacity may refuse any routine medical testing. This is making care and treatment undergoing testing for justification of procedure and not for care.

Anonymous said...

So if you go to a doctor's office and you end up with COVID (from the visit to the office), the doctor can't be sued. The doctor determined that the governor and health orders had not required him to screen himself and his staff for COVID virus so he didn't do it. Even though he had an ethical obligation to do so. You die (or your relative) because the healthcare community was not required (by the governor/health department) to screen themselves. And you cannot get anything for it. Sounds fair.

Anonymous said...

12:27, I would assume the burden of proof would be on you to prove contracting Covid was directly from the office visit. That is your 1st hurdle. I'm sure you'd also have to prove incompetency and dereliction on the doctor/staff action. This is, I believe, action for the upcoming flood of litigation about to hit not just in our state, but everywhere.

Anonymous said...

11:38, if you don't want to take the COVID test, then don't and the provider won't give you the treatment you were looking for, your cardiovision.

The game today, nor in years pre-COVID, were set with rules that you get to decide how and when you get treated; there have always been procedures in place that were part of the process - you don't follow them, you don't get into the process.

Sounds like you just want something to bitch about - and can't find anything new.

Now tell us all - what was your reason for not wanting to take another COVID test? Any good reasons, or just being an ass?

Anonymous said...

It appears we have some readers who were hoping to cash in on the global pandemic. Sorry folks!

Anonymous said...

There's a reason Mississippi ranks 46 in terms of education. Here's a good indicator.

Anonymous said...

Thankfully my lawsuit is already finalizing settlement!

Anonymous said...

Yep. The schools are going wide open, no masks, no social distancing. Complete disregard of the guidelines. Yet, they are now free to kill staff, custodians, vulnerable kids, bus drivers, with impunity. And, they will kill them. Deliberately. To kiss a fool's behind. A fool who will lose us the Senate and White House. Killing folks for arse kissing. Tater, you are a damn pathetic excuse for a human.

Never EVER been a fan of ambulance chasers, but this is beyond a crime. Not even an attempt to follow guidelines.

But since Tater Et Al opened the state clearly without following CDC guidelines on reopening, why can't a judge just consider this theatrics? Tater and Gunn didn't ever TRY to see a 2 week reduction in cases.

Anonymous said...

To 11:00 and those of like mind: What about all of the financial destruction caused to those who survive C-19, but can't pay the hospital bills afterward? What about those without health insurance, and those who would lose health insurance by the repeal/gutting of the Affordable Care Act? You really can't have it both ways without being full of s**t.

And for those who say extended unemployment benefits encourage people not to work, yet want to immunize businesses and professionals from their own negligence? Aren't we then really encouraging negligence? Again, you can't have it both ways without being . . .

Anonymous said...

12:55, it sounds as if he/she is concerned about coercion (Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to act in an involuntary manner by use of threats or force. It involves a set of various types of forceful actions that violate the free will of an individual to induce a desired response), which is illegal and unethical in medical practice. Why he/she didn't want another test is irrelevant. Maybe he is the one waiting on settlement, who knows, but I agree, if he/she was threatened with no care for not taking a test, that should be looked into. May want to read and think a bit more.

Anonymous said...

The Governor signed it on July 8

History of Actions:
1 06/22 Suspend from Deadlines by HC 69
2 06/22 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A
3 06/23 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
4 06/24 (S) Amended
5 06/24 (S) Passed As Amended {Vote}
6 06/25 (S) Transmitted To House
7 06/29 (H) Referred To Rules
8 06/29 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
9 06/30 (H) Tabled Subject To Call
10 06/30 (H) Amended
11 06/30 (H) Passed As Amended {Vote}
12 06/30 (H) Immediate Release
13 07/01 (H) Returned For Concurrence

14 07/01 (S) Concurred in Amend From House {Vote}
15 07/01 (S) Immediate Release
16 07/02 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
17 07/02 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
18 07/08 Approved by Governor

Clovis said...

It is getting thick on this board with Karens. Somebody shoot that water cannon up here amongst us, we need some relief.

Anonymous said...

Here's a little gem tucked away in Section 4, providing immunity for incompetent care and misuse of medical products:

The immunity includes, but is not limited to, injury or death resulting from . . . acts or omissions while providing health care services to persons unrelated to the COVID-19 state of emergency when those acts or omissions were intended to support the state's response to the COVID-19 state of emergency, including, but not limited to, the following:
. . .

(b) Diagnosing or treating patients outside the normal scope of the health care professional's license or practice;

(c) Using equipment or supplies outside of the product's normal use for medical practice and the provision of health care services, including using or modifying a medical device for an unapproved use or indication

Anonymous said...

So, I guess we're good now on the ole Lysol Injection, with a Zyrtec/Pepcid chaser and some hydroxyQuack?

Anonymous said...

@5:28
Do you prefer a $30,000 per dose vaccine paid for by the US taxpayer?

Anonymous said...

Watch the infection and death rates rise in nursing homes. The hedge funds that own most long term care facilities now have a free pass to purge the aged with impunity. Politicians that speak of protecting the most vulnerable turn a blind eye when campaign cash is at stake.

Anonymous said...

King - have any Covid-related lawsuits been filed in Mississippi?



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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