FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 25, 2004

GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR AND LT. GOVERNOR AMY TUCK
SHOW SUPPORT FOR TORT REFORM LEGISLATION

(Jackson, Miss.) – Their legislation strongly supported by the Senate and sponsored by 60 in the House, Governor Haley Barbour and Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck today pledged their support for more comprehensive tort reform legislation, which was introduced in the legislature this week.

“As I have said before, lawsuit abuse hurts Mississippi’s economy and job creation efforts,” Governor Barbour said, “We have attempted to slow its progress in sessions past, but this is the session that we must stop lawsuit abuse altogether.”

Governor Barbour explained that lawsuit abuse drives the cost of doing business in Mississippi to intolerably high levels, and that every small business in Mississippi is one lawsuit away from bankruptcy. He continued to drive home the point that job creation starts with meaningful tort reform. He also emphasized that lawsuit abuse continues to threaten the quality of and access to health care in our state.

“Businesses will not locate in Mississippi if their employees cannot get quality health care. It’s as simple as that, said Barbour. “Tort reform is the gateway to both more and better jobs as well as a healthy Mississippi.”

“The people of Mississippi must have access to quality medical care for themselves and their loved ones, and affordable medical malpractice insurance for health care providers is a critical factor in providing that care,” said Lieutenant Governor Tuck. “Senate Bill 2763 promotes job creation, industrial expansion and a business-friendly climate in Mississippi. Our small businesses must not live in fear that they are one lawsuit away from bankruptcy and we must continue to be able to attract new businesses and industries to our state.”

Other reforms discussed were additional improvement in the areas of joinder and venue, caps on non-economic damages, and revising the punitive damages cap.

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